Micro-Optic Security And Image Presentation System Presenting A Synthetically Magnified Image That Appears To Transform Into Another Image

ABSTRACT

A film material utilizing a regular two-dimensional array of non-cylindrical lenses to enlarge micro-images, called icons, to form a synthetically magnified image through the united performance of a multiplicity of individual lens/icon image systems. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system includes one or more optical spacers ( 5 ), a micro-image formed of a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icons ( 4 ) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes and positioned on or next to the optical spacer ( 5 ), and a periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements ( 1 ) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, the axis of symmetry being the same planar axis as that of the micro-image planar array ( 4 ). A number of distinctive visual effects, such as three-dimensional and motion effects, can be provided by the present system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. Utility patent application Ser.No. 10/995,859 filed Nov. 22, 2004 and claims benefit of and priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/524,281 filed on Nov. 21,2003, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/538,392, filed on Jan.22, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/627,234 filedon Nov. 12, 2004, and where permissible, each of which is incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem that in an exemplary embodiment is formed as a polymer film. Theunusual optical effects provided by the various embodiments of thedisclosure can be used as a security device for overt and covertauthentication of currency, documents, and products as well as visualenhancement of products, packaging, printed material, and consumergoods.

BACKGROUND

Various optical materials have been employed to provide authenticationof currency and documents, to identify and distinguish authenticproducts from counterfeit products, and to provide visual enhancement ofmanufactured articles and packaging. Examples include holographicdisplays, and other image systems involving lenticular structures andarrays of spherical micro-lenses. Holographic displays have becomeprevalent for use with credit cards, drivers' licenses, and clothingtags.

An example of a lenticular structure for document security is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,336 to Kaule, et al. directed to a securitythread for embedding within a document to provide anti-falsificationmeasures. The security thread is transparent having a printed pattern onone side, on the opposite side, a lenticular lens structure coordinatedwith the printed pattern. The lenticular lens structure is described ascomprised of a plurality of parallel cylinder lenses, or alternativelyspherical or honeycomb lenses.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,731 to Drinkwater, et al. discloses a securitydevice that includes an array of micro-images coupled with an array ofsubstantially spherical micro-lenses. The lenses may also be astigmaticlenses. The lenses are each typically 50-250 μm and with a focal lengthof typically 200 μm.

These approaches all suffer from similar drawbacks. They result in arelatively thick structure that is not particularly suitable for usewith document authentication. Their use of cylindrical or sphericallenses provides a narrow field of view resulting in fuzzy images andrequiring exact and difficult alignment of the focal point of the lenseswith the associated images. Additionally, they have not provenparticularly effective as security or anti-counterfeiting measures.

In view of these and other deficiencies, a need exists in the industryfor secure and visually unique optical materials that can facilitateovert authentication of currency, documents, manufactured articles, andproducts and for optical materials that provide visual enhancement ofmanufactured articles, products, and packaging.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a film material that utilizes aregular two-dimensional array of non-cylindrical lenses to enlargemicro-images, called icons herein, and to form a synthetically magnifiedimage through the united performance of a multiplicity of individuallens/icon image systems. The synthetically magnified images and thebackground surrounding them can be either colorless or colored, andeither or both the images and the background surrounding them can betransparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent,display optically variable color, metallized, or substantiallyretroreflective. The material displaying colored images on a transparentor tinted background is particularly well suited for use in combinationwith underlying printed information. When a piece of such material isapplied over printed information both the printed information and theimages are seen at the same time in spatial or dynamic motionrelationship to each other. Material of this kind can also beoverprinted, i.e. have print applied to the uppermost (lens) surface ofthe material. Alternatively, the material displaying colored images (ofany color, including white and black) on a translucent or substantiallyopaque background of different color is particularly well suited forstand-alone use or with overprinted information, not in combination withunderlying printed information.

The magnitude of the synthetic magnification achieved can be controlledby the selection of a number of factors, including the degree of ‘skew’between the axes of symmetry of the lens array and the axes of symmetryof the icon array. Regular periodic arrays possess axes of symmetry thatdefine lines that the pattern could be reflected around without changingthe basic geometry of the pattern, that in the ideal of arrays areinfinite in extent. A square array, for example, can be reflected aroundany diagonal of any square without changing the relative orientation ofthe array: if the sides of the squares are aligned with the x and y axesof the plane, then the sides of the squares will still be aligned withthose axes after reflection, with the assumption that all sides areidentical and indistinguishable.

Instead of mirroring the square array the array can be rotated throughan angle equal to the angle between the axes of symmetry of the sametype. In the case of a square array the array can be rotated through anangle of 90 degrees, the angle between diagonals, to arrive at an arrayorientation which is indistinguishable from the original array.Similarly, an array of regular hexagons can be mirrored or rotated abouta number of axes of symmetry, including the “diagonals” of the hexagon(the lines connecting opposite vertices) or “midpoint divisors” (linesthat connect between the center points of faces on opposite sides of thehexagon). The angle between the axes of symmetry of either type is sixtydegrees (60°) results in an array orientation that is indistinguishablefrom the original orientation.

If a lens array and an icon array are initially arranged with theirplanar dimensions defining their respective x-y plane, one of the axesof symmetry being chosen to represent the x axis of the first array, thecorresponding type of axis of symmetry (for example, diagonal axis ofsymmetry) being chosen to represent the x axis of the second array, withthe two arrays separated by a substantially uniform distance in the zaxis direction, then the arrays are said to have zero skew if the x axesof the arrays appear to be parallel to each other when the arrays areviewed along the z axis direction. In the case of hexagonal arrays,rotation of one array through an angle of 60 degrees, or multiplesthereof, puts the arrays in alignment again, so there is no skew, justas there is no skew for a rotation of 90 degrees, or multiples thereof,in the case of square arrays. Any angular misalignment between the xaxes that is different from these “zero skew rotations” is called theskew. A small skew, such as 0.06 degree, can create a largemagnification, in excess of 1,000×, and a large skew, such as 20 degreesproduces a small magnification, potentially as small as 1×. Otherfactors, such as the relative scales of the two arrays and the F# of thelens, can affect both the magnification of the synthetic image as wellas its rotation, orthoparallactic movement, and apparent visual depth.

There are a number of distinct visual effects that can be provided bythe present material (subsequently referred to as “Unison” for thematerial in general, or by the names “Unison Motion”, “Unison Deep”,“Unison SuperDeep”, “Unison Float”, “Unison SuperFloat”, “UnisonLevitate”, “Unison Morph”, and “Unison 3-D” for Unison materialpresenting those respective effects), and their various embodimentsproducing each of these effects, generally described as follows:

Unison Motion presents images that show orthoparallactic movement(OPM)—when the material is tilted the images move in a direction of tiltthat appears to be perpendicular to the direction anticipated by normalparallax. Unison Deep and SuperDeep present images that appear to reston a spatial plane that is visually deeper than the thickness of thematerial. Unison Float and SuperFloat present images that appear to reston a spatial plane that is a distance above the surface of the material;and Unison Levitate presents images that oscillate from Unison Deep (orSuperDeep) to Unison Float (or SuperFloat) as the material is rotatedthrough a given angle (e.g. 90 degrees), then returning to Unison Deep(or SuperDeep) again as the material is further rotated by the sameamount. Unison Morph presents synthetic images that change form, shape,or size as the material is rotated or viewed from different viewpoints.Unison 3-D presents images that show large scale three-dimensionalstructure, such as an image of a face.

Multiple Unison effects can be combined in one film, such as a film thatincorporates multiple Unison Motion image planes that can be differentin form, color, movement direction, and magnification. Another film cancombine a Unison Deep image plane and a Unison Float image plane, whileyet another film can be designed to combine Unison Deep, Unison Motion,and Unison Float layers, in the same color or in different colors, thoseimages having the same or different graphical elements. The color,graphical design, optical effect, magnification, and other visualelements of multiple image planes are largely independent; with fewexceptions, planes of these visual elements can be combined in arbitraryways.

For many currency, document and product security applications it isdesirable that the total thickness of the film be less than 50 microns,(also referred to herein as “p”, or “um”), for example less than about45 microns, and as a further example in the range of about 10 microns toabout 40 microns. This can be accomplished, for example, through the useof focusing elements having an effective base diameter of less than 50microns, as a further example less than 30 microns, and as yet a furtherexample, from about 10 microns to about 30 microns. As another example,a focusing element having a focal length of less than about 40 microns,and as a further example having a focal length of about 10 to less thanabout 30 microns, can be used. In a particular example focusing elementshaving a base diameter of 35 microns and a focal length of 30 micronscan be used. An alternate, hybrid refractive/diffractive embodiment, canbe made as thin as 8 microns.

The films herein are highly counterfeit resistant because of theircomplex multi-layer structure and their high aspect-ratio elements thatare not amenable to reproduction by commonly available manufacturingsystems.

Thus, the present system provides a micro-optic system preferably in theform of a polymer film having a thickness that when viewed by unaidedeye(s) in reflective or transmitted light projects one or more imagesthat:

-   -   i. show orthoparallactic movement (Unison Motion);    -   ii. appear to lie on a spatial plane deeper than the thickness        of the polymer film (Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeep);    -   iii. appear to lie on a spatial plane above a surface of the        polymer film (Unison Float and Unison SuperFloat);    -   iv. oscillate between a spatial plane deeper than the thickness        of the polymer film and a spatial plane above a surface of the        film as the film is azimuthally rotated (Unison Levitate);    -   v. transform from one form, shape, size, color (or some        combination of these properties) into a different form, shape,        size, or color (or some combination of these properties) (Unison        Morph); and/or    -   vi. appear to have realistic three-dimensionality (Unison 3-D).

The present disclosure more particularly provides a syntheticmagnification micro-optic system and method of making the samecomprising:

(a) one or more optical spacers;

(b) a micro image comprised of a periodic planar array of a plurality ofimage icons having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planaraxes, and positioned on or next to the optical spacer; and

(c) a periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements having anaxis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, the axis ofsymmetry being the same planar axis as that of the micro image planararray, each focusing element being either a polygonal base multi-zonalfocusing element, a lens providing an enlarged field of view over thewidth of the associated image icon so that the peripheral edges of theassociated image icon do not drop out of view, or an aspheric focusingelement having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns.

The system can include one or more of the aforementioned effects. Amethod is provided by which said effects can be selectively includedwithin the system.

The present disclosure further provides a security device suitable forat least partial incorporation in or on, and for use on or inassociation with, a security document, label, tear tape, tamperindicating device, sealing device, or other authentication or securitydevice, which comprises at least one micro-optic system, as definedabove. More particularly the present disclosure provides a documentsecurity device and method of making the same comprising:

(a) one or more optical spacers;

(b) a micro image comprised of a periodic planar array of a plurality ofimage icons having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planaraxes, and positioned on or next to the optical spacer; and

(c) a periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements having anaxis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, the axis ofsymmetry being the same planar axis as that of the micro image planararray, each focusing element being either a polygonal base multi-zonalfocusing element, a lens providing an enlarged field of view over thewidth of the associated image icon so that the peripheral edges of theassociated image icon do not drop out of view, or an aspheric focusingelement having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns.

Additionally, the present disclosure provides a visual enhancementdevice which comprises at least one micro-optic system, as defined aboveand having the above described effects, for visual enhancement ofclothing, skin products, documents, printed matter, manufactured goods,packaging, point of purchase displays, publications, advertisingdevices, sporting goods, financial documents and transaction cards, andall other goods.

Also provided is a security document or label having at least onesecurity device, as defined above, at least partially embedded thereinand/or mounted thereon.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparentto one of ordinary skill from the following detailed description andaccompanying drawings.

Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantage will be orbecome apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of thefollowing drawings and detailed description. It is intended that allsuch additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be includedwithin this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure,and be protected by the accompanying claims.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. All publications, patentapplications, patents and other references mentioned herein areincorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, thepresent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition,the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and notintended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating theprinciples of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews.

FIG. 1 a is a cross-section of a micro-optic system exemplifying oneembodiment of the present disclosure providing orthoparallactic movementof the images of the system.

FIG. 1 b is an isometric cutaway view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2 a illustrates an orthoparallactic synthetic image motion effectof the embodiment of FIGS. 1 a-b.

FIGS. 2 b-c illustrate the visual effects of the Deep and Floatembodiments of the present system.

FIGS. 2 d-f illustrate the visual effects obtained by rotation of aLevitate embodiment of the present system.

FIGS. 3 a-i are plan views showing various embodiments and fill-factorsof different patterns of symmetric two dimensional arrays of lenses ofthe present system.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating different combinations of Deep, Unison,Float, and Levitate embodiment effects produced by variation of the iconelement period/lens period ratio.

FIGS. 5 a-c are plan views illustrating how the synthetic magnificationof the icon images can be controlled by the relative angle between thelens array and icon array axes of the present system.

FIGS. 6 a-c are plan views illustrating an embodiment accomplishing amorphing effect of synthetically magnified images of the present system.

FIGS. 7 a-c are cross-sections showing various embodiments of the iconlayer of the present system.

FIGS. 8 a-b are plan views illustrating both ‘positive’ and ‘negative’icon element embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view illustrating an embodiment of amulti-level material for creating regions of a synthetically magnifiedimage having different properties.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view illustrating another embodiment of amulti-level material for creating regions of a synthetically magnifiedimage having different properties.

FIGS. 11 a-b are cross-section views showing reflective optics andpinhole optics embodiments of the present system.

FIGS. 12 a-b are cross-section views comparing the structures of anall-refractive material embodiment with a hybrid refractive/reflectivematerial embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view showing a ‘peel-to-reveal’tamper-indicating material embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view illustrating a ‘peel-to-change’tamper-indicating material embodiment.

FIGS. 15 a-d are cross-section views showing various embodiments oftwo-sided systems.

FIGS. 16 a-f are cross-section views and corresponding plan viewsillustrating three different methods for creating grayscale or tonalicon element patterns and subsequent synthetically magnified images bythe present system.

FIGS. 17 a-d are cross-section views showing the use of the presentsystem in conjunction with printed information.

FIGS. 18 a-f are cross-section views illustrating the application of thepresent system to, or incorporation into, various substrates and incombination with printed information.

FIGS. 19 a-b are cross-section views comparing the in-focus field ofview of a spherical lens with that of a flat field aspheric lens wheneach are incorporated into the present system.

FIGS. 20 a-c are cross-section views illustrating two benefits ofutility which result from the use of a thick icon layer in the presentsystem.

FIG. 21 is a plan view that shows the application of the present systemto currency as a “windowed” security thread.

FIG. 22 illustrates the orthoparallactic motion embodiment of thepresent system of images in connection with a “windowed” securitythread.

FIG. 23 illustrates half-toning a synthetic image of the present system.

FIG. 24 a illustrates use of the present system to create combinedsynthetic images that are smaller in dimension than the smallest featureof the individual synthetic images.

FIG. 24 b illustrates use of the present system to create narrowpatterns of gaps between icon image elements.

FIG. 25 illustrates incorporation of covert, hidden information intoicon images of the present system.

FIG. 26 illustrates creating fully three-dimensional images with thepresent system.

FIG. 27 illustrates the method for designing icon images for thethree-dimensional embodiment of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 illustrates the icon image resulting from the method of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 illustrates how the method of FIG. 27 can be applied to acomplex three-dimensional synthetic image.

FIG. 30 illustrates the central zone focal properties of an exemplaryhexagonal base multi-zonal lens having an effective diameter of 28microns.

FIG. 31 illustrates the central zone focal properties of a sphericallens having a diameter of 28 microns.

FIG. 32 illustrates the performance of the side zones of the hexagonallens of FIG. 30.

FIG. 33 illustrates the performance of the outer zones of the sphericallens of FIG. 31.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments asillustrated in the figures. While several embodiments are described inconnection with these figures, there is no intent to limit the inventionto the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, theintent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

FIG. 1 a illustrates one embodiment of the present micro-optic system 12providing orthoparallactic movement of the images of the system.

The system 12 micro-lenses 1 that have at least two substantially equalaxes of symmetry and that are arranged in a two-dimensional periodicarray. Lens diameter 2 is preferably less than 50μ and the interstitialspace between lenses 3 is preferably 5μ or less. (We use the terms “μ”and “μm” interchangeably to mean the same measurement). Micro-lens 1focuses an image of icon element 4 and projects this image 10 toward aviewer. The system is commonly used in situations having normal levelsof ambient lighting, so the illumination of the icon images arises fromreflected or transmitted ambient light. Icon element 4 is one element ofa periodic array of icon elements having periods and dimensionssubstantially similar to those of the lens array including lens 1.Between the lens 1 and the icon element 4 is an optical spacer 5, whichmay be contiguous with the lens 1 material or may optionally be aseparate substrate 8—in this embodiment the lenses 9 are separate fromthe substrate. The icon elements 4 may be optionally protected by asealing layer 6, preferably of a polymer material. Sealing layer 6 maybe transparent, translucent, tinted, pigmented, opaque, metallic,magnetic, optically variable, or any combination of these that providedesirable optical effects and/or additional functionality for securityand authentication purposes, including support of automated currencyauthentication, verification, tracking, counting and detection systems,that rely on optical effects, electrical conductivity or electricalcapacitance, magnetic field detection.

The total thickness 7 of the system is typically less than 50μ; theactual thickness depends on the F# of the lenses 1 and the diameter ofthe lenses 2, and the thickness of additional security feature or visualeffect layers. The repeat period 11 of the icon elements 4 issubstantially identical to the repeat period of the lenses 1; the “scaleratio”, the ratio of the repeat period of the icons to the repeat periodof the lenses, is used to create many different visual effects. Axiallysymmetric values of the scale ratio substantially equal to 1.0000 resultin Unison Motion orthoparallactic effects when the symmetry axes of thelenses and the icons are misaligned, axially symmetric values of thescale ratio less than 1.0000 result in Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeepeffects when the symmetry axes of the lenses and the icons aresubstantially aligned, and axially symmetric values of the scale ratiogreater than 1.0000 result in Unison Float and Unison SuperFloat effectswhen the symmetry axes of the lenses and the icons are substantiallyaligned. Axially asymmetric values of the scale ratio, such as 0.995 inthe X direction and 1.005 in the Y direction, result in Unison Levitateeffects.

Unison Morph effects can be obtained by scale distortions of either orboth the lens repeat period and the icon repeat period, or byincorporating spatially varying information into the icon pattern.Unison 3-D effects are also created by incorporating spatially varyinginformation into the icon pattern, but in this embodiment theinformation represents different viewpoints of a three dimensionalobject as seen from specific locations substantially corresponding tothe locations of the icons.

FIG. 1 b presents an isometric view of the present system, as depictedin cross-section in FIG. 1 a, having square array patterns of lenses 1and icons 4 of repeat period 11 and optical spacer thickness 5 (FIG. 1 ais not specific to a square array pattern, but is a representativecross-section of all regular periodic array patterns). The icon elements4 are shown as “$” images, clearly seen in the cut-away section at thefront. While there is substantially a one-to-one correspondence betweenlenses 1 and icon elements 4, the axes of symmetry of the lens arraywill not, in general, be exactly aligned with the axes of symmetry ofthe icon array.

In the case of the Unison (orthoparallactic motion) material embodimentof FIGS. 1 a-b with a scale ratio of 1.0000, when the lens 1 axes andicon elements 4 axes are substantially aligned, the resulting syntheticimages of the icon elements (in this example, a giant “$”) “blow-up” andare magnified by a factor that theoretically approaches infinity. Slightangular misalignment of the lens 1 axes and icon elements 4 axes reducesthe magnification factor of the synthetic images of the icon elementsand causes the magnified synthetic images to rotate.

The synthetic magnification factor of Unison Deep, Unison Float, andUnison Levitate embodiments depends on the angular alignment of the lens1 axes and the icon elements 4 axes as well as the scale ratio of thesystem. When the scale ratio is not equal to 1.0000 the maximummagnification obtained from substantial alignment of these axes is equalto the absolute value of 1/(1.0000−(scale ratio)). Thus a Unison Deepmaterial having a scale ratio of 0.995 would exhibit a maximummagnification of |1/(1.000−0.995)|=200×. Similarly, a Unison Floatmaterial having a scale ratio of 1.005 would also exhibit a maximummagnification of |1/(1.000−1.005)|=200×. In a manner similar to theUnison Motion material embodiment, slight angular misalignment of thelens 1 axes and icon elements 4 axes of the Unison Deep, Unison Float,and Unison Levitate embodiments reduces the magnification factor of thesynthetic images of the icon elements and causes the magnified syntheticimages to rotate.

The synthetic image produced by a Unison Deep or SuperDeep icon patternis upright with respect to the orientation of the Unison Deep orSuperDeep icon pattern, while the synthetic image produced by a UnisonFloat or SuperFloat icon pattern is upside down, rotated one hundred andeighty degrees (180°) with respect to the orientation of the UnisonFloat or Super Float icon pattern.

FIG. 2 a schematically depicts the counter-intuitive orthoparallacticimage motion effects seen in the Unison Motion embodiment. The left sideof FIG. 2 a depicts a piece of Unison Motion material 12 in plan viewbeing oscillated 18 about horizontal axis 16. If the syntheticallymagnified image 14 moved according to parallax, it would appear to bedisplaced up and down (as shown in FIG. 2 a) as the material 12 wasoscillated around the horizontal axis 16. Such apparent parallacticmotion would be typical of real objects, conventional print, andholographic images. Instead of exhibiting parallactic motion,synthetically magnified image 14 shows orthoparallactic motion 20—motionwhich is perpendicular to the normally expected parallactic motiondirection. The right side of FIG. 2 a depicts a perspective view of apiece of material 12 exhibiting the orthoparallactic motion of a singlesynthetically magnified image 14 as it is oscillated 18 about horizontalrotational axis 16. The dotted outline 22 shows the position of thesynthetically magnified image 14 after it has moved to the right byorthoparallaxis and the dotted outline 24 shows the position of thesynthetically magnified image 14 after it has moved to the left byorthoparallaxis.

The visual effects of the Unison Deep and Unison Float embodiments areisometrically depicted in FIGS. 2 b,c. In FIG. 2 b,a piece of UnisonDeep material 26 presents synthetically magnified images 28 thatstereoscopically appear to lie beneath the plane of the Unison Deepmaterial 26 when viewed by the eyes of the observer 30. In FIG. 2 c, apiece of Unison Float material 32 presents synthetically magnifiedimages 34 that stereoscopically appear to lie above the plane of theUnison Float material 34 when viewed by the eyes of the observer 30. TheUnison Deep and Unison Float effects are visible from all azimuthalviewing positions and over a wide range of elevation positions, fromvertical elevation (such that the line of sight from the eyes of theobserver 30 to the Unison Deep material 26 or Unison Float material 32is perpendicular to the surface of the materials) down to a shallowelevation angle which is typically less than 45 degrees. The visibilityof the Unison Deep and Unison Float effects over a wide range of viewingangles and orientations provides a simple and convenient method ofdifferentiating Unison Deep and Unison Float materials from simulationsutilizing cylindrical lenticular optics or holography.

The Unison Levitate embodiment effect is illustrated in FIGS. 2 d-f byisometric views showing the stereoscopically perceived depth position ofa synthetically magnified image 38 in three different azimuthalrotations of the Unison Levitate material 36 and the corresponding planview of the Unison Levitate material 36 and synthetically magnifiedimage 38 as seen by the eyes of the observer 30. FIG. 2 d depicts thesynthetically magnified image 38 (hereafter referred to as ‘the image’)as stereoscopically appearing to lie in a plane beneath the UnisonLevitate material 36 when said material is oriented as shown in the planview. The heavy dark line in the plan view serves as an azimuthalorientation reference 37 for the sake of explanation. Note that in FIG.2 d the orientation reference 37 is aligned in a vertical direction andthe image 38 is aligned in a horizontal direction. The image 38 appearsin the Unison Deep position because the scale ratio is less than 1.000along a first axis of the Unison Levitate material 36 that is alignedsubstantially parallel to a line connecting the pupils of the observer'stwo eyes (this will be hereafter called the ‘stereoscopic scale ratio’).The stereoscopic scale ratio of the Unison Levitate material 36 isgreater than 1.000 along a second axis perpendicular to this first axis,thereby producing a Unison Float effect of the image 38 when the secondaxis is aligned substantially parallel to a line connecting the pupilsof the observer's eyes, as shown in FIG. 2 f. Note that the orientationreference 37 is in a horizontal position in this figure. FIG. 2 edepicts an intermediate azimuthal orientation of the Unison Levitatematerial 36 that produces a Unison Motion orthoparallactic image effectbecause the stereoscopic scale ratio in this azimuthal orientation issubstantially 1.000.

The visual effect of a Unison Levitate image 38 moving from beneath theUnison Levitate material 36 (FIG. 2 d) up to the level of the UnisonLevitate material 36 (FIG. 2 e) and further up above the level of theUnison Levitate material 36 (FIG. 2 f) as the material is azimuthallyrotated can be enhanced by combining the Unison Levitate material 36with conventionally printed information. The unchanging stereoscopicdepth of the conventional print serves as a reference plane to betterperceive the stereoscopic depth movement of the images 38.

When a Unison material is illuminated by a strongly directional lightsource such as a ‘point’ light source (ex: a spotlight or an LEDflashlight) or a collimated source (ex: sunlight), “shadow images” ofthe icons may be seen. These shadow images are unusual in many ways.While the synthetic image presented by Unison does not move as thedirection of illumination is moved, the shadow images produced do move.Furthermore, while the Unison synthetic images may lie in differentvisual planes than the plane of the material, the shadow images alwayslie in the plane of the material. The color of the shadow image is thecolor of the icon. So black icons create black shadow images, greenicons create green shadow images, and white icons create white shadowimages.

The movement of the shadow image as the angle of illumination moves istied to the specific depth or motion Unison effect in a way thatparallels the visual effect present in the synthetic image. Thus themovement of a shadow image as the angle of the light is alteredparallels the movement that the synthetic image shows when the angle ofview is altered. In particular:

Motion shadow images move orthoparallactically as the light source ismoved.

Deep shadow images move in the same direction as the light source.

Float shadow images move opposite to the direction of the light source.

Levitate shadow images move in directions that are a combination of theabove:

-   -   Levitate Deep shadow images move in the same direction as the        light in the left-right direction, but opposite from the        direction of the light in the up-down direction; Levitate Float        shadow images move opposite to the light in the left right        direction but in the same direction as the light in the up-down        direction; Levitate Motion shadow images show orthoparallactic        motion with respect to the light movement.

Unison Morph shadow images show morphing effects as the light source ismoved.

Additional unusual shadow image effects are seen when a diverging pointlight source, such as an LED light, is moved toward and away from aUnison film. When the light source is further away its diverging raysmore closely approximate collimated light, and the shadow imagesproduced by Deep, SuperDeep, Float, or SuperFloat Unison syntheticimages appear approximately the same size as the synthetic images. Whenthe light is brought closer to the surface the shadow images of Deep andSuperDeep materials shrink because the illumination is stronglydivergent, while the shadow images of Float and SuperFloat materialsexpand. Illuminating these materials with converging illumination causesDeep and SuperDeep shadow images to enlarge to a size greater than thesynthetic images, while Float and SuperFloat shadow images shrink.

The shadow images of Unison motion material do not change scalesignificantly as the convergence or divergence of illumination ischanged, rather, the shadow images rotate about the center ofillumination. Unison Levitate shadow images shrink in one direction andenlarge in the perpendicular direction when the convergence ordivergence of the illumination is changed. Unison Morph shadow imageschange in ways specific to the particular Morph pattern as theconvergence or divergence of the illumination is changed.

All of these shadow image effects can be used as additionalauthentication methods for Unison materials utilized for security,anti-counterfeiting, brand protection applications, and other similarapplications.

FIGS. 3 a-i are plan views showing various embodiments and fill-factorsof different patterns of symmetric two-dimensional arrays ofmicro-lenses. FIGS. 3 a, d and g depict micro-lenses 46, 52, and 60,respectively, that are arranged in regular hexagonal array pattern 40.(The dashed array pattern lines 40,42, and 44 indicate the symmetry ofthe pattern of lenses but do not necessarily represent any physicalelement of the lens array.) The lenses of FIG. 3 a have substantiallycircular base geometry 46, the lenses of FIG. 3 g have substantiallyhexagonal base geometries 60, and the lenses of FIG. 3 d haveintermediate base geometries which are rounded-off hexagons 52. Asimilar progression of lens geometries applies to the square array 42 oflenses 48, 54, and 62, wherein these lenses have base geometries whichrange from substantially circular 48, to rounded-off square 54, tosubstantially square 62, as seen in FIGS. 3 b, e, and h.Correspondingly, the equilateral triangular array 44 holds lenses havingbase geometries that range from substantially circular 50, torounded-off triangle 58, to substantially triangular 64, as seen inFIGS. 3 c, f and i.

The lens patterns of FIGS. 3 a-i are representative of lenses that canbe used for the present system. The intersititial space between thelenses does not directly contribute to the synthetic magnification ofthe images. A material created using one of these lens patterns willalso include an array of icon elements that is arranged in the samegeometry and at approximately the same scale, allowing for differencesin scale utilized to produce Unison Motion, Unison Deep, Unison Float,and Unison Levitate effects. If the interstitial space is large, such asis shown in FIG. 3 c, the lenses are said to have a low fill-factor andthe contrast between the image and the background will be reduced bylight scattered from icon elements. If the interstitial spaces are smallthe lenses are said to have a high fill-factor and the contrast betweenthe image and the background will be high, providing the lensesthemselves have good focal properties and icon elements are in thelenses' focal planes. It is generally easier to form high opticalquality micro-lenses with a circular or nearly circular base than with asquare or triangular base. A good balance of lens performance andminimizing of interstitial space is shown in FIG. 3 d; a hexagonal arrayof lenses having base geometries that are rounded hexagons.

Lenses having a low F# are particularly suitable for use in the presentsystem. By low F# we mean an F# equivalent to 4 or less, and inparticular for Unison Motion approximately 2 or lower. Low F# lenseshave high curvature and a correspondingly large sag, or centerthickness, as a proportion of their diameter. A typical Unison lens,with an F# of 0.8, has a hexagonal base 28 microns wide and a centerthickness of 10.9 microns. A typical Drinkwater lens, with a diameter of50 microns and a focal length of 200 microns, has an F# of 4 and acenter thickness of 3.1 microns. If scaled to the same base size, theUnison lens has a sag almost six times larger than the Drinkwater lens.

We have discovered that polygonal base multi-zonal lenses, for examplehexagonal base multi-zonal lenses, have important and unexpectedadvantages over circular base spherical lenses. As explained above,hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses significantly improvemanufacturability by virtue of their stress-relieving geometry, butthere are additional unexpected optical benefits obtained through theuse of hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses.

We refer to these lenses as multi-zonal because they possess threeoptical zones that each provide a different and unique benefit to thesubject invention. The three zones are the central zone (constitutingapproximately half of the area of the lens), the side zones, and thecorner zones. These polygonal lenses have an effective diameter that isthe diameter of a circle drawn inside the corner zones around thecentral zone and including the side zones.

The central zone of the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens of the subjectinvention has an aspheric form (for example, having the form defined by[y=(5.1316E)X4−(0.01679) X3+(0.124931) X+11.24824] for a 28 microndiameter lens with a nominal 28 micron focal length) that brings lightto a focus at least as well as a spherical surface having the samediameter and focal length. FIG. 30 illustrates the central zone 780focal properties 782 of a nominal 28 micron diameter hexagonal basemulti-zonal lens 784 with a nominal 28 micron focal length in a polymersubstrate 786 (lens and substrate n=1.51) and FIG. 31 illustrates thecentral zone 788 focal properties 790 of a 28 micron diameter sphericallens 792 with a nominal 30 micron focal length in a polymer substrate794 (lens and substrate n=1.51). Comparison of these two figures clearlydemonstrates that the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784 of the subjectdisclosure performs at least as well as the spherical lens 792. Thecentral zone 780 of the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784 provideshigh image resolution and shallow depth of field from a wide variety ofviewing angles.

Each of the six side zones 796 of the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens784 of the subject invention have focal lengths that depend on thelocation with the zone in a complex way, but the effect is to cause thefocus of the side zones 796 to be spread over a range of values 798spanning approximately +/−10 percent of the central zone focus, asillustrated in FIG. 32. This vertical blurring 798 of the focal pointeffectively increases the depth of field of the lens in these zones 796,and provides a benefit that is equivalent to having a flat-field lens.The performance of the outer zones 800 of spherical lens 792 can be seenin FIG. 33. The vertical blurring of the focal point 802 issignificantly less for the spherical lens 792 than it is for thehexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784.

This is particularly important for off-normal viewing: the increaseddepth of field, and effectively flatter field, mitigates the abruptimage defocus that can occur with a spherical lens when its curved focalsurface separates from the icon plane. Consequently, a Unison materialusing hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses displays synthetic images thatfade from focus more softly at higher viewing angles than the equivalentUnison material using spherical lenses. This is desirable because itincreases the effective viewing angle of the material and thereforeincreases its usefulness as a security device or an image presentationdevice.

The corner zones 806 of the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784 of FIG.32 possess diverging focal properties that provide the unexpectedbenefit of scattering 808 ambient illumination onto the icon plane andthereby reducing the sensitivity of the Unison material to illuminationconditions. The spherical lens 792 of FIG. 33 does not scatter theambient illumination over as wide an area (as seen by the absence ofrays scattered into the icon plane regions 804), so Unison materialsmade using spherical lenses have greater synthetic image brightnessvariations when viewed from a variety of angles than Unison materialsmade using hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses.

The benefit obtained from the exemplary hexagonal base multi-zonallenses is further magnified because hexagonal base multi-zonal lenseshave a higher fill factor (ability to cover the plane) than sphericallenses. The interstitial space between spherical lenses providesvirtually no scattering of ambient light, while this non-scattering areais much smaller in the case of hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses.

Thus it is seen that even though the focal properties of a hexagonalbase multi-zonal lens are inferior to those of a spherical lens asevaluated by conventional optical standards, in the context of thesubject invention hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses provide unexpectedbenefits and advantages over spherical lenses.

Either type of lens can benefit from the addition of scatteringmicrostructures or scattering materials introduced into, or incorporatedinto, the lens interstitial spaces to enhance the scattering of ambientillumination onto the icon plane. Furthermore, the lens interstitialspaces can be filled with a material that will form a small radiusmeniscus, with either converging or diverging focal properties, todirect ambient illumination onto the icon plane. These methods may becombined, for example, by incorporating light scattering particles intoa lens interstitial meniscus fill material. Alternatively, the lensinterstitial zones can be originally manufactured with suitablyscattering lens interstitial zones.

A spherical lens having these proportions is very difficult tomanufacture because the high contact angle between the surface of thefilm and the edge of the lens acts as a stress concentrator for theforces applied to separate the lens from the tool during manufacture.These high stresses tend to cause the adhesion of the lens to the filmto fail and to failure of removal of the lens from the tool.Furthermore, the optical performance of a low F# spherical lens isprogressively compromised for radial zones away from the center of thelens: low F# spherical lenses do not focus well except near theircentral zone.

Hexagonal base lenses have an unexpected and significant benefit overlenses that have a more substantially circular base: hexagonal lensesrelease from their tools with lower peeling force than the opticallyequivalent lenses with substantially circular bases. Hexagonal lenseshave a shape that blends from substantially axially symmetric near theircenter to hexagonally symmetric, with corners that act as stressconcentrators, at their bases. The stress concentrations caused by thesharp base corners reduce the overall peeling force required to separatethe lenses from their molds during manufacturing. The magnitude of thiseffect is substantial—the peeling forces can be reduced duringmanufacturing by a factor of two or more for hexagonal base lenses ascompared to substantially circular base lenses.

The image contrast of the material can be enhanced by filling the lensinterstitial spaces with a light absorbing (dark colored) opaquepigmented material, effectively forming a mask for the lenses. Thiseliminates the contrast reduction that arises from light scattered fromthe icon layer through the lens interstitial spaces. An additionaleffect of this interstitial fill is that the overall image becomesdarker because incoming ambient illumination is blocked from passingthrough the interstitial spaces to the icon plane. The image clarityproduced by lenses having aberrant focusing at their periphery can alsobe improved by an opaque pigmented interstitial fill, providing thatthis fill occludes the aberrant peripheral lens zone.

A different effect can be obtained by filling the lens interstitialspaces with a white or light colored material, or a material colormatched to a substrate to be used with the Unison material. If the lightcolored lens interstitial fill is dense enough and the icon planeincorporates a strong contrast between the icon elements and thebackground, the Unison synthetic image will be substantially invisiblewhen viewed with reflected light, yet will be distinctly visible whenviewed in transmitted light from the lens side, but not visible whenviewed from the icon side. This provides the novel security effect ofhaving a one-way transmission image that is visible only in transmittedlight and visible only from one side.

Fluorescing materials can be utilized in a lens interstitial coatinginstead of, or in addition to, visible light pigments to provideadditional means of authentication.

FIG. 4 graphs the effects of changing the stereoscopic scale ratio, SSR(the icon element repeat period the lens array repeat period), along anaxis of the present material. Zones of the system having an SSR greaterthan 1.0000 will produce Unison Float and SuperFloat effects, zoneshaving an SSR of substantially 1.0000 will produce Unison Motionorthoparallactic motion (OPM) effects, and zones having an SSR less than1.0000 will produce Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeep effects. All ofthese effects can be produced and transitioned from one to another in avariety of ways along an axis of system film. This figure illustratesone of an infinite variety of such combinations. The dashed line 66indicates the SSR value corresponding substantially to 1.0000, thedividing line between Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeep and Unison Floatand Unison SuperFloat, and the SSR value which demonstrates OPM. In zone68 the SSR of the Unison material is 0.995, creating a Unison Deepeffect.

Adjacent to this is zone 70 in which the SSR is ramped from 0.995 up to1.005, producing a spatial transition from a Unison Deep to a UnisonFloat effect. The SSR in the next zone 72 is 1.005 creating a UnisonFloat effect. The next zone 74 creates a smooth transition down from aUnison Float effect to a Unison Deep effect. Zone 76 proceeds stepwiseup from a Unison Deep effect, to OPM, to a Unison Float effect, and zone78 steps it back down to OPM. The variations in repeat period needed toaccomplish these effects are generally most easily implemented in theicon element layer. In addition to varying the SSR in each zone, it maybe desirable to vary the rotational angle of each zone of the arrays,preferably within the icon element array, to keep the syntheticallymagnified images substantially similar in size.

The easiest way to interpret this graph is to see it as a cross-sectionof the stereoscopic depth that will be perceived across this axis of apiece of system material. It is therefore possible to create astereoscopically sculpted field of images, a contoured visual surface,by local control of the SSR and optionally by corresponding localcontrol of the array rotational angle. This stereoscopically sculptedsurface can be used to represent an unlimited range of shapes, includinghuman faces. A pattern of icon elements that create the effect of astereoscopically sculpted grid, or periodic dots, can be a particularlyeffective way to visually display a complex surface.

FIGS. 5 a-c are plan views depicting the effect of rotating one arraypattern with respect to the other in the production of material of thepresent system. FIG. 5 a shows a lens array 80 having a regular periodicarray spacing 82, without substantial change in the angle of the arrayaxes. FIG. 5 b shows an icon element array 84 with a progressivelychanging array axis orientation angle 86. If the lens array 80 iscombined with the icon element array 84 by translating the lens arrayover the icon array, as drawn, then the approximate visual effect thatresults is shown in FIG. 5 c. In FIG. 5 c the material 88 created bycombining lens array 80 and icon array 84 creates a pattern ofsynthetically magnified images 89, 90, 91 that vary in scale androtation across the material. Towards the upper edge of the material 88image 89 is large and shows a small rotation. Image 90, toward the uppermiddle section of material 88 is smaller and is rotated through asignificant angle with respect to image 89. The different scales androtations between images 89 and 91 are the result of the differences inthe angular misalignment of the lens pattern 82 and the icon elementpattern 86.

FIGS. 6 a-c illustrate a method for causing one synthetically magnifiedOPM image 98 to morph into another synthetically magnified image 102 asthe first image moves across a boundary 104 in the icon element patterns92 and 94. Icon element pattern 92 bears circle-shaped icon elements 98,shown in the magnified inset 96. Icon element pattern 94 bearsstar-shaped icon elements 102, shown in the magnified inset 100. Iconelement patterns 92 and 94 are not separate objects, but are joined attheir boundary 104. When the material is assembled using this combinedpattern of icon elements the resulting OPM images will show the morphingeffects depicted in FIGS. 6 b and c. FIG. 6 b shows OPM circle images 98moving to the right 107 across the boundary 104 and emerging from theboundary as star images 102 also moving to the right. Image 106 is intransition, part circle and part star, as it crosses the boundary. FIG.6 c of the figure shows the images after they have moved further to theright: image 98 is now closer to the boundary 104 and image 106 hasalmost completely crossed the boundary to complete its morphing fromcircle to star. The morphing effect can be accomplished in a less abruptmanner by creating a transition zone from one icon element pattern tothe other, instead of having a hard boundary 104. In the transition zonethe icons would gradually change from circle to star through a series ofstages. The smoothness of the visual morphing of the resulting OPMimages will depend on the number of stages used for the transition. Therange of graphical possibilities is endless. For example: the transitionzone could be designed to make the circle appear to shrink while sharpstar points protruded up through it, or alternatively the sides of thecircle could appear to dent inward to create a stubby star thatprogressively became sharper until it reached its final design.

FIGS. 7 a-c are cross-sections of materials of the present system thatillustrate alternative embodiments of the icon elements. FIG. 7 adepicts a material having lenses 1 separated from icon elements 108 byoptical spacer 5. Icon elements 108 are formed by patterns of colorless,colored, tinted, or dyed material applied to the lower surface ofoptical spacer 5. Any of the multitude of common printing methods, suchas ink jet, laserjet, letterpress, flexo, gravure, and intaglio, can beused to deposit icon elements 108 of this kind so long as the printresolution is fine enough.

FIG. 7 b depicts a similar material system with a different embodimentof icon elements 112. In this embodiment the icon elements are formedfrom pigments, dyes, or particles embedded in a supporting material 110.Examples of this embodiment of icon elements 112 in supporting material110 include: silver particles in gelatin, as a photographic emulsion,pigmented or dyed ink absorbed into an ink receptor coating, dyesublimation transfer into a dye receptor coating, and photochromic orthermochromic images in an imaging film.

FIG. 7 c depicts a microstructure approach to forming icon elements 114.This method has the benefit of almost unlimited spatial resolution. Theicon elements 114 can be formed from the voids in the microstructure 113or the solid regions 115, singly or in combination. The voids 113 canoptionally be filled or coated with another material such as evaporatedmetal material, having a different refractive index, or dyed orpigmented material.

FIGS. 8 a,b depict positive and negative embodiments of icon elements.FIG. 8 a shows positive icon elements 116 that are colored, dyed, orpigmented 120 against a transparent background 118. FIG. 8 b showsnegative icon elements 122 that are transparent 118 against a colored,dyed, or pigmented background 120. A material of the present system mayoptionally incorporate both positive and negative icon elements. Thismethod of creating positive and negative icon elements is particularlywell adapted to the microstructure icon elements 114 of FIG. 7 c.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of one embodiment of a pixel-zone materialof the present system. This embodiment includes zones with lenses 124having a short focus and other zones with lenses having a long focus136. The short focus lenses 124 project images 123 of icon elements 129in icon plane 128 disposed at the focal plane of lenses 124. The longfocus lenses 136 project images 134 of icon elements 137 in icon plane132 disposed at the focal plane of lenses 136. Optical separator 126separates short focus lenses 124 from their associated icon plane 128.Long focus lenses 136 are separated from their associated icon plane 132by the sum of the thicknesses of optical separator 126, icon plane 128,and second optical separator 130. Icon elements 137 in the second iconplane 132 are outside the depth of focus of short focus lenses 124 andtherefore do not form distinct synthetically magnified images in theshort focus lens zones. In a similar manner, icon elements 129 are tooclose to long focus lenses 136 to form distinct synthetically magnifiedimages. Accordingly, zones of material bearing short focus lenses 124will display images 123 of the icon elements 129, while zones ofmaterial bearing long focus lenses 136 will display images 134 of iconelements 137. The images 123 and 134 that are projected can differ indesign, color, OPM direction, synthetic magnification factor, andeffect, including the Deep, Unison, Float, and Levitate effectsdescribed above.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of a pixel-zonematerial of the present system. This embodiment includes zones withlenses 140 elevated by a lens support mesa 144 above the bases of thenon-elevated lenses 148. The focal length of the elevated lenses 140 isthe distance 158, placing the focus of these lenses in the first iconplane 152. The focal length of the non-elevated lenses 148 is thedistance 160, placing the focus of these lenses in the second icon plane156. These two focal lengths, 158 and 160, may be chosen to be similaror dissimilar. The elevated lenses 140 project images 138 of iconelements 162 in icon plane 152 disposed at the focal plane of lenses140. The non-elevated lenses 148 project images 146 of icon elements 164in icon plane 156 disposed at the focal plane of lenses 148. Theelevated lenses 140 are separated from their associated icon elements162 by the sum of the thickness of the lens support mesa 144 and theoptical separation 150. The non-elevated lenses 148 are separated fromtheir associated icon elements 164 by the sum of the thickness of theoptical separation 150, the icon layer 152, and the icon separator 154.Icon elements 164 in the second icon plane 156 are outside the depth offocus of the elevated lenses 140 and therefore do not form distinctsynthetically magnified images in the elevated lens zones. In a similarmanner, icon elements 152 are too close to non-elevated lenses 148 toform distinct synthetically magnified images. Accordingly, zones ofmaterial bearing elevated lenses 140 will display images 138 of the iconelements 162, while zones of material bearing non-elevated lenses 136will display images 146 of icon elements 156. The images 138 and 146that are projected can differ in design, color, OPM direction, syntheticmagnification factor, and effect, including Deep, Unison, Float, andLevitate effects.

FIGS. 11 a,b are cross-sections illustrating non-refractive embodimentsof the present system. FIG. 11 a illustrates an embodiment that utilizesa focusing reflector 166 instead of a refractive lens to project images174 of icon elements 172. The icon layer 170 lies between the viewer'seyes and the focusing optics. Focusing reflectors 166 can be metallized167 to obtain high focusing efficiency. The icon layer 170 is maintainedat a distance equal to the focal length of the reflectors by opticalseparator 168. FIG. 11 b discloses a pinhole optics embodiment of thismaterial. Opaque upper layer 176, preferably black in color for contrastenhancement, is pierced by apertures 178. Optical separator element 180controls the field of view of the system. Icon elements 184 in iconlayer 182 are imaged through apertures 178 in a manner similar to thepinhole optics of a pinhole camera. Because of the small amount of lightpassed through the apertures, this embodiment is most effective when itis back-illuminated, with light passing through the icon plane 182first, then through the apertures 178. Effects of each of theabove-described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can becreated using either the reflective system design or the pinhole opticssystem design.

FIGS. 12 a,b are cross-sections comparing the structures of anall-refractive material 188 with a hybrid refractive/reflective material199. FIG. 12 a depicts an exemplary structure, with micro-lenses 192separated from the icon plane 194 by optical separator 198. Optionalsealing layer 195 contributes to the total refractive system thickness196. Lenses 192 project icon images 190 toward the viewer (not shown).Hybrid refractive/reflective material 199 includes micro-lenses 210 withicon plane 208 directly beneath them. Optical spacer 200 separates thelenses 210 and the icon plane 208 from reflective layer 202. Reflectivelayer 202 can be metallized, such as by evaporated or sputteredaluminum, gold, rhodium, chromium, osmium, depleted uranium or silver,by chemically deposited silver, or by multi-layer interference films.Light scattered from icon layer 208 reflects from reflective layer 202,passes through icon layer 208 and into lenses 210 which project images206 toward the viewer (not shown). Both of these figures are drawn toapproximately the same scale: by visual comparison it can be seen thatthe total system thickness 212 of the hybrid refractive/reflectivesystem 199 is about half the total system thickness 196 of theall-refractive system 188. Exemplary dimensions for equivalent systemsare 29μ total refractive system 188 thickness 196 and 17μ for totalhybrid refractive/reflective system 199 thickness 212. The thickness ofa refractive/reflective system can be further reduced by scaling. Thus,a hybrid system having lenses 15μ in diameter can be made with a totalthickness of about 8μ. Effects of each of the above describedembodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, Levitate, Morph, and 3-D can be createdusing the hybrid refractive/diffractive design.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section showing a ‘peel-to-reveal’ tamper-indicatingmaterial embodiment of the present system. This embodiment does notdisplay an image until it is tampered with. The untampered structure isshown in region 224, where a refractive system 214 is optically buriedunder a top layer 216 consisting of an optional substrate 218 and apeelable layer 220 which is conformal to the lenses 215. Peelable layer220 effectively forms negative lens structures 220 that fit overpositive lenses 215 and negate their optical power. Lenses 215 cannotform images of the icon layer in the untampered region, and the lightscattered 222 from the icon plane is unfocused. Top layer 216 mayinclude an optional film substrate 218. Tampering, shown in region 226,causes the release of top layer 216 from the refractive system 214,exposing the lenses 215 so that they can form images 228. Effects ofeach of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate,can be included in a tamper indicating ‘peel-to-reveal’ system of thetype of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a cross-section illustrating a ‘peel-to-change’tamper-indicating material embodiment of the present system. Thisembodiment displays a first image 248 of a first icon plane 242 prior totampering 252, then displays a second image 258 at region 254 after ithas been tampered with. The untampered structure is shown in region 252,where two refractive systems, 232 and 230, are stacked. The first iconplane 242 is located beneath the lenses 240 of the second system. Priorto tampering in region 252 the first, or upper, system 232 presentsimages of the first icon plane 242. The second icon plane 246 is too faroutside the depth of focus of lenses 234 to form distinct images. Thefirst lenses 234 are separated from the second lenses 240 by an optionalsubstrate 236 and a peelable layer 238 which is conformal to the secondlenses 240. Peelable layer 232 effectively forms negative lensstructures 238 that fit over positive lenses 240 and negate theiroptical power. Top layer 232 may include optional film substrate 236.Tampering results in the peeling 256 of the top layer 232, shown inregion 254, from the second refractive system 230, exposing the secondlenses 240 so that they can form images 258 of the second icon layer246. Second lenses 240 do not form images of the first icon layer 242because the icon layer is too close to the lenses 240.

This embodiment of a tamper indicating material is well suited toapplication as a tape or label applied to an article. Tampering releasesthe top layer 232, leaving the second system 230 attached to thearticle. Prior to tampering, this embodiment presents a first image 248.After tampering 254 the second system 230, still attached to thearticle, presents a second image 258 while the peeled layer 256 presentsno image at all. Effects of each of the above described embodiments,OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be included in either the firstsystem 232 or the second system 230.

Note that an alternative embodiment accomplishing a similar effect tothat of FIG. 14 is to have two separate systems laminated to each other.In this embodiment when the upper layer is peeled it takes the firsticon plane and its image(s) with it, revealing the second system and itsimage(s).

FIGS. 15 a-d are cross-sections showing various two-sided embodiments ofthe present system. FIG. 15 a depicts a two-sided material 260 thatincludes a single icon plane 264 that is imaged 268 by lenses 262 on oneside and imaged 270 by a second set of lenses 266 on the opposite side.The image 268 seen from the left side (as drawn) is the mirror image ofthe image 270 seen from the right side. Icon plane 264 may contain iconelements that are symbols or images which appear similar in mirrorimage, or icon elements which appear different in mirror image, orcombinations of icon elements wherein a portion of the icon elements arecorrect-reading when viewed from one side and the other icon elementsare correct-reading when viewed from the other side. Effects of each ofthe above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can bedisplayed from either side of a two-sided material according to thisembodiment.

FIG. 15 b illustrates another two-sided embodiment 272 having two iconplanes 276 and 278 that are imaged, 282 and 286 respectively, by twosets of lenses, 274 and 280 respectively. This embodiment is essentiallytwo separate systems, 287 and 289, such as illustrated in FIG. 1 a, thathave been joined together with an icon layer spacer 277 in between them.The thickness of this icon layer spacer 277 will determine the degreethat the ‘wrong’ icon layer is imaged 284 and 288 by a set of lenses.For example, if the thickness of icon layer spacer 277 is zero, suchthat icon layers 276 and 278 are in contact, then both icon layers willbe imaged by both sets of lenses 274 and 280. In another example, if thethickness of icon layer spacer 277 is substantially larger than thedepth of focus of lenses 274 and 280, then the ‘wrong’ icon layers willnot be imaged by the lenses 274 and 280. In yet another example, if thedepth of focus of one set of lenses 274 is large, but the depth of focusof the other set of lenses is small (because the lenses 274 and 280 havedifferent F#'s), then both icon planes 276 and 278 will be imaged 282through lenses 274 but only one icon plane 278 will be imaged throughlenses 280, so a material of this type would show two images from oneside but only one of those images, mirrored, from the opposite side.Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float,and Levitate, can be displayed from either side of a two-sided materialaccording to this embodiment, and the projected images 282 and 286 canbe of the same or different colors.

FIG. 15 c shows yet another two-sided material 290 having a pigmentedicon layer spacer 298 that blocks the lenses on one side of the materialfrom seeing the ‘wrong’ set of icons. Lenses 292 image 294 icon layer296 but cannot image icon layer 300 because of the presence of pigmentedicon layer 298. Similarly, lenses 302 image 304 icon layer 300, butcannot image icon layer 296 because of the presence of pigmented iconlayer 298. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM,Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be displayed from either side of atwo-sided material according to this embodiment, and the projectedimages 294 and 304 can be of the same or different colors.

FIG. 15 d discloses a further two-sided material 306 embodiment havinglenses 308 that image 318 icon layer 314 and lenses 316 on the oppositeside that image 322 icon layer 310. Icon layer 310 is close to, orsubstantially in contact with, the bases of lenses 308 and icon layer314 is close to, or substantially in contact with, the bases of lenses316. Icons 310 are too close to lenses 308 to form an image, so theirlight scatters 320 instead of focusing. Icons 314 are too close tolenses 316 to form an image, so their light scatters 324 instead offocusing. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep,Float, and Levitate, can be displayed from either side of a two-sidedmaterial according to this embodiment, and the projected images 318 and322 can be of the same or different colors.

FIGS. 16 a-f are cross-sections and corresponding plan viewsillustrating three different methods for creating grayscale or tonalicon element patterns and subsequent synthetically magnified images withthe present system. FIGS. 16 a-c are cross-section details of the iconside of a material 307, including part of optical separator 309 and atransparent micro structured icon layer 311. The icon elements areformed as bas-relief surfaces 313, 315, 317 that are then filled with apigmented or dyed material 323, 325, 327 respectively. The underside ofthe icon layer may be optionally sealed by a sealing layer 321 that canbe transparent, tinted, colored, dyed, or pigmented, or opaque. Thebas-relief micro structures of icon elements 313, 315, and 317 providethickness variations in the dyed or pigmented fill material, 323, 325,and 327 respectively, that create variations in the optical density ofthe icon element as seen in plan view. The plan views corresponding toicon elements 323, 325, and 327 are plan views 337, 339, and 341. Theuse of this method to create grayscale or tonal synthetically magnifiedimages is not limited to the specifics of the examples disclosed here,but may be generally applied to create an unlimited variety of grayscaleimages.

FIG. 16 a includes icon element 313, dyed or pigmented icon element fill323, and corresponding plan view 337. The cross section view of the iconplane at the top of this figure can only show one cutting plane throughthe icon elements. The location of the cutting plane is indicated by thedashed line 319 through the plane views 337, 339, and 341. Accordingly,the cross-section of icon element 313 is one plane through asubstantially hemispherical-shaped icon element. By suitably limitingthe overall dye or pigment density of the fill 323, thickness variationsof the dyed or pigmented fill 323 create a tonal, or grayscale, opticaldensity variations represented in the plan view 337. An array of iconelements of this type can be synthetically magnified within the presentmaterial system to produce images that show equivalent grayscalevariations.

FIG. 16 b includes icon element 315, dyed or pigmented icon element fill325, and corresponding plan view 339. Plan view 339 shows that the iconelement 315 is a bas-relief representation of a face. The tonalvariations in an image of a face are complex, as shown by the complexthickness variations 325 in the cross-section view. As disclosed withregard to icon element 313, an array of icon elements of this type, asshown by 315, 325, and 339, can be synthetically magnified within thepresent material system to produce images that show equivalent grayscalevariations representing, in this example, the image of a face.

FIG. 16 c includes icon element 317, dyed or pigmented fill 327, andcorresponding plan view 341. In a manner similar to the discussion ofFIGS. 16 a,b, above, the bas-relief shape of this icon element structureproduces a tonal variation in the appearance of the dyed and pigmentedfill 327 and in the synthetically magnified image produced by thepresent material system. Icon element 317 illustrates a method forcreating a bright center in a rounded surface, as compared to the effectof icon element 313 which creates a dark center in a rounded surface.

FIGS. 16 d,e disclose another embodiment 326 of transparent bas-reliefmicro structured icon layer 311 including icon elements 329 and 331 thatare coated with a high refractive index material 328. The icon layer 311can be sealed with an optional sealing layer 321 that fills the iconelements 329 and 331, 330 and 332, respectively. The high refractiveindex layer 328 enhances the visibility of sloping surfaces by creatingreflections from them by total internal reflection. Plan views 342 and344 present representative images of the appearance of icon elements 329and 331 and their synthetically magnified images. This high refractiveindex coating embodiment provides a kind of edge-enhancement effectwithout adding pigment or dye to make the icons and their imagesvisible.

FIG. 16 f discloses yet another embodiment 333 of transparent bas-reliefmicro structured icon 335 utilizing an air, gas, or liquid volume 336 toprovide visual definition for this phase interface 334 microstructure.Optional sealing layer 340 may be added with or without optionaladhesive 338 to entrap the air, gas, or liquid volume 336. The visualeffect of a phase interface icon element is similar to that of a highrefractive index coated icon element 329 and 331.

FIGS. 17 a-d are cross-sections showing the use of the present system asa laminating film in conjunction with printed information, such as maybe utilized in the manufacture of I.D. cards and driver's licenses,wherein the material 348 (consisting of the coordinated micro-array oflenses and images described above) covers a substantial proportion ofthe surface. FIG. 17 a depicts an embodiment of Unison used as alaminate over print 347. Material 348 having at least some opticaltransparency in the icon layer is laminated to fibrous substrate 354,such as paper or paper substitute, with lamination adhesive 350,covering or partly covering print element 352 that had previously beenapplied to the fibrous substrate 354. Because the material 348 is atleast partially transparent, the print element 352 can be seen throughit and the effect of this combination is to provide the dynamic imageeffect of the present system in combination with the static print.

FIG. 17 b shows an embodiment of the system material used as a laminateover a print element 352 applied to a nonfibrous substrate 358, such asa polymer film. As in FIG. 17 a, material 348 having at least someoptical transparency in the icon layer is laminated to nonfibroussubstrate 358, such as polymer, metal, glass, or ceramic substitute,with lamination adhesive 350, covering or partly covering print element352 that had previously been applied to the nonfibrous substrate 354.Because the material 348 is at least partially transparent, the printelement 352 can be seen through it and the effect of this combination isto provide the dynamic image effect in combination with the staticprint.

FIG. 17 c depicts the use of a print element directly on the lens sideof material 360. In this embodiment material 348 has print element 352directly applied to the upper lens surface. This embodiment does notrequire that the material be at least partly transparent: the printelement 352 lies on top of the material and the dynamic image effectscan be seen around the print element. In this embodiment the material348 is used as the substrate for the final product, such as currency, IDcards, and other articles requiring authentication or providingauthentication to another article.

FIG. 17 d depicts the use of a print element directly on the icon sideof an at-least partially transparent material 362. Print element 352 isapplied directly to the icon layer or sealing layer of an at-leastpartially transparent system material 348. Because the system material348 is at least partially transparent, the print element 352 can be seenthrough it and the effect of this combination is to provide the dynamicimage effect in combination with the static print. In this embodimentthe system material 348 is used as the substrate for the final product,such as currency, ID cards, and other articles requiring authenticationor providing authentication to another article.

Each of the embodiments of FIGS. 17 a-d can be used singly or incombination. Thus, for example, a system material 348 can be bothoverprinted (FIG. 17 c) and backside printed (FIG. 17 d), thenoptionally laminated over print on a substrate (FIGS. 17 a,b).Combinations such as these can further increase the counterfeiting,simulation, and tampering resistance of the material of the presentsystem.

FIGS. 18 a-f are cross-sections illustrating the application of thepresent system to, or incorporation into, various substrates and incombination with printed information. The embodiments of FIGS. 18 a-fdiffer from those of FIGS. 17 a-d in that the former figures disclosesystem material 348 that covers most or all of an article, whereas thepresent figures disclose embodiments wherein the system material or itsoptical effect do not substantially cover a whole surface, but rathercover only a portion of a surface. FIG. 18 a depicts a piece of at-leastpartially transparent system material 364 adhered to a fibrous ornon-fibrous substrate 368 with adhesive element 366. Optional printelement 370 has been directly applied to the upper, lens, surface ofmaterial 364. Print element 370 may be part of a larger pattern thatextends beyond the piece of material 364. The piece of material 364 isoptionally laminated over print element 372 that was applied to thefibrous or non-fibrous substrate prior to the application of thematerial 364.

FIG. 18 b illustrates an embodiment of single-sided system material 364incorporated into an non-optical substrate 378 as a window, wherein atleast some of the edges of the system material 364 are captured,covered, or enclosed by the non-optical substrate 378. Print elements380 may be optionally applied on top of the system material lens surfaceand these print elements may be aligned with, or correspond to, printelements 382 applied to the non-optical substrate 378 in the areaadjacent to print element 380. Similarly, print elements 384 can appliedto the opposite side of the non-optical substrate aligned with, orcorresponding to, print elements 386 applied to the icon or sealinglayer 388 of the system material 364. The effect of a window of thiskind will be to present distinct images when the material is viewed fromthe lens side and no images when viewed from the icon side, providing aone-way image effect.

FIG. 18 c shows a similar embodiment to that of FIG. 18 b, except thatthe system material 306 is double-sided material 306 (or otherdouble-sided embodiment described above). Print elements 390, 392, 394,and 396 substantially correspond in function to print elements 380, 382,384, 386, previously described. The effect of a material window of thiskind will be to present different distinct images when the material isviewed from opposite sides. For example, a window incorporated into acurrency paper could display the numerical denomination of the bill,such as “10” when viewed from the face side of the bill, but when viewedfrom the back side of the bill the Unison window could display differentinformation, such as “USA”, that may be in the same color as the firstimage or a different color.

FIG. 18 d illustrates a transparent substrate 373 acting as the opticalspacer for a material formed by a zone of lenses 374 of limited extentand an icon layer 376 extending substantially beyond the periphery ofthe zone of lenses 374. In this embodiment the present effects will onlybe visible in that zone that includes both lenses and icons(corresponding to lens zone 374 in this figure). Both the lenses 374 andthe adjacent substrate may optionally be printed 375, and print elementsmay also be applied to the icon layer 376 or to an optional sealinglayer covering the icons (not indicated in this figure—see FIG. 1).Multiple lens zones can be used on an article after the manner of thisembodiment; wherever a lens zone is placed the Unison effects will beseen; the size, rotation, stereoscopic depth position, and OPMproperties of the images can be different for each lens zone. Thisembodiment is well suited for application to ID cards, credit cards,drivers' licenses, and similar applications.

FIG. 18 e shows an embodiment that is similar to that of FIG. 18 d,except that the icon plane 402 does not extend substantially beyond theextent of the lens zone 400. Optical spacer 398 separates the lenses 400from the icons 402. Print elements 404 and 406 correspond to printelements 375 and 377 in FIG. 18 d. Multiple zones 400 can be used on anarticle after the manner of this embodiment; each zone can have separateeffects. This embodiment is well suited for application to ID cards,credit cards, drivers' licenses, and similar applications.

FIG. 18 f depicts an embodiment that is similar to FIG. 18 d except thatthe present embodiment incorporates optical spacer 408 that separateslenses 413 from icon plane 410. Lenses 413 extend substantially beyondthe periphery of the icon zone 412. Print elements 414 and 416correspond to print elements 375 and 377 in FIG. 18 d. Multiple lenszones can be used on an article after the manner of this embodiment;wherever a lens zone is placed the present effects will be seen; thesize, rotation, stereoscopic depth position, and OPM properties of theimages can be different for each lens zone. This embodiment is wellsuited for application to ID cards, credit cards, drivers' licenses, andsimilar applications.

FIGS. 19 a,b illustrate cross-sectional views comparing the in-focusfield of view of a spherical lens with that of a flat field asphericlens when each are incorporated into a structure of the type describedabove. FIG. 19 a illustrates a substantially spherical lens as appliedin a system as described above. Substantially spherical lens 418 isseparated from icon plane 422 by optical spacer 420. Image 424 projectedout perpendicular to the surface of the material originates at focalpoint 426 within the icon layer 422. The image 424 is in sharp focusbecause the focal point 426 is within the icon layer 422. When the lensis viewed from an oblique angle, then image 428 is blurry and out offocus because the corresponding focal point 430 is no longer in the iconplane, but is above it a substantial distance. Arrow 432 shows the fieldcurvature of this lens, equivalent to the sweep of the focal point from426 to 430. The focal point is within the icon plane throughout the zone434, then moves outside of the icon plane in zone 436. Lenses which arewell suited to application in coordination with a plane of printedimages or icons typically have a low F#, typically less than 1,resulting in a very shallow depth of focus—higher F# lenses can be usedeffectively with Deep and Float effects, but cause proportionatevertical binocular disparity with effects described herein when usedwith Unison Motion effects. As soon as the lower limit of the depth offocus moves outside of the icon plane the image clarity degradesrapidly. From this figure it can be seen that the field curvature of asubstantially spherical lens limits the field of view of the image: theimage is distinct only within the in-focus zone 434, rapidly going outof focus for more oblique viewing angles. Substantially spherical lensesare not flat-field lenses, and the field curvature of these lenses isamplified for low F# lenses.

FIG. 19 b illustrates an aspheric lens as applied to the present system.As an aspheric lens, its curvature is not approximated by a sphere.Aspheric lens 438 is separated from icon layer 442 by optical spacer440. Aspheric lens 438 projects image 444 of icon plane 442 normal tothe plane of the material. The image originates at focal point 446. Thefocal length of aspheric lens 438 lies within the icon plane 442 for awide range of viewing angles, from normal 444 to oblique 448, because ithas a flat-field 452. The focal length of the lens varies according tothe angle of view through it. The focal length is shortest for normalviewing 444 and increases as the viewing angle becomes more oblique. Atthe oblique viewing angle 448 the focal point 450 is still within thethickness of the icon plane, and the oblique image is therefore still infocus for this oblique viewing angle 448. The in-focus zone 454 is muchlarger for the aspheric lens 438 than the in-focus zone 434 of thesubstantially spherical lens 418. The aspheric lens 438 thus provides anenlarged field of view over the width of the associated image icon sothat the peripheral edges of the associated image icon do not drop outof view compared to that of the spherical lens 418. Aspheric lenses arepreferred for the present system because of the larger field of viewthey provide and the resulting increase in visibility of the associatedimages.

FIGS. 20 a-c are cross-sections illustrating two benefits of utilitywhich result from the use of a thick icon layer. These benefits applywhether the lens 456 used to view them is substantially spherical 418 oraspheric 438, but the benefits are greatest in combination with asphericlenses 438. FIG. 20 a illustrates a thin icon layer 460 system materialincluding lenses 456 separated from icon layer 460 by optical spacer458. Icon elements 462 are thin 461 in comparison to the field curvatureof the lens 463, limiting the in-focus zone to a small angle, the anglebetween the image projected in the normal direction 464 and the highestoblique angle image 468 that has a focal point 470 within the icon layer460. The greatest field of view is obtained by designing the normalimage focus 466 to lie at the bottom of the icon plane, therebymaximizing the oblique field of view angle, limited by the point atwhich the focal point 470 lies at the top of the icon plane. The fieldof view of the system in FIG. 20 a is limited to 30 degrees.

FIG. 20 b illustrates the benefits obtained from the incorporation of anicon plane 471 that is thick 472 in comparison to the field curvature oflens 456. Lenses 456 are separated from thick icon elements 474 byoptical spacer 458. Thick icon elements 474 remain in focus 475 over alarger field of view, 55 degrees, than the thin icon elements 462 ofFIG. 20 a. The normal image 476 projected through lenses 456 from focalpoint 478 is in clear focus, and the focus remains clear while the angleof view increases all the way up to 55 degrees, where oblique image 480focal point 482 lies at the top of the thick icon plane 471. Theincreased field if view is greatest for a flat-field lens, such as theaspheric lens 438 of FIG. 19 b.

FIG. 20 c illustrates yet another advantage of a thick icon plane 492;reducing the sensitivity of the present system material to variations inthickness S that may result from manufacturing variations. Lens 484 isspaced a distance S from the bottom surface of icon layer of thicknessi. Lens 484 projects image 496 from focal point 498 disposed at thebottom of icon layer 492. This figure is drawn to demonstrate thatvariations in the optical space S between the lenses and the icon layercan vary over a range equal to the thickness of the icon layer i withoutloss of image 496, 500, 504 focus. At lens 486 the optical spacerthickness is about (S+i/2) and the focal point 502 of image 500 is stillwithin the thickness i of icon layer 492. At lens 488 the thickness ofthe optical spacer has increased to (S+i) 490 and the focal point 506 ofimage 504 lies at the top of thick icon element 494. The optical spacerthickness can therefore vary over a range corresponding to the thicknessof the icon layer i: a thin icon layer therefore provides a smalltolerance for optical spacer thickness variations and a thick icon layerprovides a larger tolerance for optical spacer thickness variations.

An additional benefit is provided by a thick icon layer 492. Imperfectlenses, such as substantially spherical lenses, may have a shorter focallength 493 towards their edges than at their center 496. This is oneaspect of the common spherical aberration defect of substantiallyspherical lenses. A thick icon layer provides an icon element that canbe clearly focused over a range of focal lengths, 498 to 495, therebyimproving the overall clarity and contrast of an image produced by alens 484 having focal length variations.

FIG. 21 is a plan view that shows the application of the present systemto currency and other security documents as a ‘windowed’ securitythread. FIG. 21 shows a windowed thread structure including systemmaterial 508 that has been slit into a ribbon, referred to as a“thread”, that is typically in the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm in width.Thread 508 is incorporated into the fibrous document substrate 510 andprovides windowed zones 514. The thread 508 may optionally incorporate apigmented, dyed, filled, or coated sealing layer 516 to increase imagecontrast and/or to provide additional security and authenticationfeatures, such as electrical conductivity, magnetic properties, nuclearmagnetic resonance detection and authentication, or to hide the materialfrom view in reflected illumination when viewed from the back side ofthe substrate (the side opposite the side presenting the Unisonsynthetic images and an adhesive layer 517 to strengthen the bondbetween the thread 508 and the fibrous substrate 510. The thread 508 ismaintained in an orientation to keep the lenses uppermost so that theimage effects are visible in the windowed zones 514. Both the fibroussubstrate 510 and the thread may be overprinted by print elements 518and the fibrous substrate may be printed 520 on its opposite face.

FIG. 21 illustrates that thread 508 and its image effects 522 are onlyvisible from the upper surface 521 of the substrate 510 in the windowedzones 514. Thread 508 is covered by fibrous substrate material at theinside zones 512 and the image effects 522 are not substantially visiblein these zones. OPM effects are particularly dramatic when incorporatedinto thread 508. (See FIG. 22) As the fibrous substrate 510 is tilted invarious directions the OPM image can be made to scan across the width524 of the thread, producing a startling and dramatic visual effect.This scanning feature of an OPM image makes it possible to present image522 which is larger than the width of the thread 508. The user examiningthe document containing a windowed thread 508 can then tilt the documentto scan the whole image across the thread, scrolling it like a marqueesign. The effects of the Deep, Float, and Levitate embodiments can alsobe used to advantage in a windowed thread format.

The thread 508 may be at least partially incorporated in security papersduring manufacture by techniques commonly employed in the paper-makingindustry. For example, thread 508 may be pressed within wet papers whilethe fibers are unconsolidated and pliable, as taught by U.S. Pat. No.4,534,398 which is incorporated herein by reference.

The windowed thread of the present system is particularly well suitedfor application to currency. A typical total thickness for the threadmaterial is in the range of 22μ to 34μ, while the total thickness ofcurrency paper may range as high as 88μ. It is possible to incorporate awindowed security thread of the present system into currency paperwithout substantially altering the total thickness of the paper bylocally reducing the thickness of the paper by an amount equivalent tothe thickness of the thread.

In an exemplary embodiment, thread 508 comprises:

-   -   (a) one or more optical spacers;    -   (b) one or more optionally periodic planar arrays of        micro-images or icons positioned within, on, or next to an        optical spacer; and    -   (c) one or more optionally periodic planar arrays of        non-cylindrical micro lenses positioned on or next to either an        optical spacer or a planar icon array, with each micro-lens        having a base diameter of less than 50 microns.

In another embodiment, the micro-images or icons constitute filled voidsor recesses that are formed on a surface of the one or more opticalspacers, while the non-cylindrical micro-lenses are asphericmicro-lenses, with each aspheric micro-lens having a base diameterranging from about 15 to about 35 microns. At least one pigmentedsealing or obscuring layer 516 may be positioned on the planar array(s)of micro-images or icons for increasing contrast and thus visual acuityof the icons and also for masking the presence of thread 508 when thethread is at least partially embedded in a security document.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, thread 508comprises:

-   -   (a) an optical spacer having opposing upper and lower planar        surfaces;    -   (b) a periodic array of micro-images or icons comprising filled        recesses formed on the lower planar surface of the optical        spacer;    -   (c) a periodic array of non-cylindrical, flat field, aspheric or        polygonal base multi-zonal micro-lenses positioned on the upper        planar surface of the optical spacer, wherein each micro-lens        have a base diameter ranging from about 20 to about 30 microns;        and    -   (d) a pigmented sealing or obscuring layer 516 positioned on the        icon array.

The optical spacer(s) may be formed using one or more essentiallycolorless polymers including, but not limited to, polyester,polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylidenechloride, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the opticalspacer(s) is formed using polyester or polyethylene terephthalate andhas a thickness ranging from about 8 to about 25 microns.

The icon and micro-lens arrays can be formed using substantiallytransparent or clear radiation curable material including, but notlimited to acrylics, polyesters, epoxies, urethanes and the like.Preferably, the arrays are formed using acrylated urethane which isavailable from Lord Chemicals under the product designation U107.

The icon recesses formed on the lower planar surface of the opticalspacer each measures from about 0.5 to about 8 microns in depth andtypically 30 microns in micro-image or icon width. The recesses can befilled with any suitable material such as pigmented resins, inks, dyes,metals, or magnetic materials. In an exemplary embodiment, the recessesare filled with a pigmented resin comprising a sub-micron pigment whichis available from Sun Chemical Corporation under the product designationSpectra Pac.

The pigmented sealing or obscuring layer 516 can be formed using one ormore of a variety of opacifying coatings or inks including, but notlimited to, pigmented coatings comprising a pigment, such as titaniumdioxide, dispersed within a binder or carrier of curable polymericmaterial. Preferably, the sealing or obscuring layer 516 is formed usingradiation curable polymers and has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 toabout 3 microns.

Thread 508, which is described above, may be prepared in accordance withthe following method:

-   -   (a) applying a substantially transparent or clear radiation        curable resin to the upper and lower surfaces of the optical        spacer;    -   (b) forming a micro-lens array on the upper surface and an icon        array in the form of recesses on the lower surface of the        optical spacer;    -   (c) curing the substantially transparent or clear resin using a        source of radiation;    -   (d) filling the icon array recesses with a pigmented resin or        ink;    -   (e) removing excess resin or ink from the lower surface of the        optical spacer; and    -   (f) applying a pigmented sealing or obscuring coating or layer        to the lower surface of the optical spacer.

In many cases, it is desirable that security threads used in currencyand in other high value financial and identification documents bedetected and authenticated by high-speed non-contact sensors, such ascapacitance sensors, magnetic field sensors, optical transmission andopacity sensors, fluorescence, and/or nuclear magnetic resonance.

Incorporation of fluorescent materials into the lens, substrate, iconmatrix, or icon fill elements of a Unison film can enable covert orforensic authentication of the Unison material by observation of thepresence and spectral characteristics of the fluorescence. A fluorescingUnison film can be designed to have its fluorescent properties visiblefrom both sides of the material or from only one side of the material.Without an optical isolation layer in the material beneath the iconlayer, the fluorescence of any part of a Unison material will be visiblefrom either of its sides. Incorporation of an optical isolation layermakes it possible to separate the visibility of the fluorescence fromits two sides. Thus a Unison material incorporating an optical isolationlayer beneath the icon plane may be designed to exhibit fluorescence ina number of different ways: fluorescent color A visible from the lensside, no fluorescence visible from the optical isolation layer side,fluorescent color A or B visible from the optical isolation layer sidebut not from the lens side, and fluorescent color A visible from thelens side and fluorescent color A or B visible from the opticalisolation layer side. The uniqueness provided by the variety offluorescent signatures possible can be used to further enhance thesecurity of the Unison material. The optical isolation layer can be alayer of pigmented or dyed material, a layer of metal, or a combinationof pigmented layers and metal layers, that absorbs or reflects thefluorescent emission from one side of the material and prevents it frombeing seen from the other side.

Icons formed from shaped voids and their inverse, icons formed fromshaped posts, are particularly enabling for adding machine-readableauthentication features to a Unison material security thread forcurrency and other high value documents. The icon matrix, the icon fill,and any number of back coats (sealing coats) can all, separately and/orin all combinations, incorporate non-fluorescing pigments,non-fluorescing dyes, fluorescing pigments, fluorescing dyes, metalparticles, magnetic particles, nuclear magnetic resonance signaturematerials, lasing particles, organic LED materials, optically variablematerials, evaporated metal, thin film interference materials, liquidcrystal polymers, optical upconversion and downconversion materials,dichroic materials, optically active materials (possessing opticalrotary power), optically polarizing materials, and other alliedmaterials.

In some circumstances, such as when a dark or colored coating (such as amagnetic material or conductive layer) has been added to a Unisonmaterial or when the color of the icon plane is objectionable when seenthrough the back side of a substrate, it may be desirable to mask orhide the appearance of an embedded, partially embedded, or windowedUnison material security thread from one side of a paper substrate asseen in reflected light, while the thread is visible from the oppositeside of the substrate. Other types of currency security threads commonlyincorporate a metal layer, typically aluminum, to reflect light thatfilters through the surface substrate, thereby providing similarbrightness to the surrounding substrate. Aluminum or other color neutralreflecting metal can be used in similar manner to mask the appearance ofa Unison thread from the back side of a paper substrate by applying themetal layer on the back surface of the Unison material and thenoptionally sealing it in place. A pigmented layer can be utilized forthe same purpose, that of hiding or obscuring the visibility of thesecurity thread from the “back” side of the document, in place of ametallized layer, or in conjunction with it. The pigmented layer can beof any color, including white, but the most effective color is one thatmatches the color and intensity of the light internally scatteredwithin, and outside of, the fibrous substrate.

The addition of a metallized layer to a Unison material can beaccomplished in a number of ways, including direct metallization of theicon or sealing layer of the Unison material by evaporation, sputtering,chemical deposition, or other suitable means, or lamination of the iconor sealing layer of the Unison material to the metallized surface of asecond polymer film. It is common practice to create currency securitythreads by metallizing a film, pattern demetallizing this film to leavenarrow ‘ribbons’ of metallized area, laminating the metallized surfaceto a second polymer film, then slitting the laminated material such thatthe metal ribbons are isolated from the edges of the slit threads by thelaminating adhesive, thereby protecting the metal from chemical attackat the edges of the thread. This method can also be applied in the caseof the subject invention: the Unison material can simply replace thesecond laminating film. Thus a Unison material can be augmented by theaddition of patterned or unpatterned metallized layers.

Synthetic images can be designed as binary patterns, having one color(or absence of color) defining the icons and a different color (orabsence of color) defining the background; in this case each icon zoneincludes a complete single-tone image that utilizes image ‘pixels’ thatare either full on or full off. More sophisticated synthetic images canbe produced by providing tonal variations of the selected icon color.The synthetic image tonal variation can be created by controlling thedensity of the color in each icon image or by effectively ‘half-toning’the synthetic image by including or excluding design elements inselected groups of icons.

The first method, controlling the density of the color in each iconimage, may be accomplished by controlling the optical density of thematerial creating the microprinted icon image. One convenient method todo this utilizes the filled void icon embodiment, already describedpreviously.

The second method, ‘half-toning’ the synthetic image by including orexcluding design elements in selected groups of icons, illustrated inFIG. 23, accomplished by including image design elements in a proportionof icon zones that is equal to the color density desired. FIG. 23illustrates this with an example using a hexagonal repeat pattern forthe icon zones 570 that would be coordinated with a similar hexagonalrepeat pattern of lenses. Each of the icon zones 570 do not containidentical information. All of the icon image elements, 572, 574, 576,and 578 are present at substantially the same color density. Icon imageelements 572 and 574 are present in some of the icon zones and differenticon image elements are present in other icon zones. Some icon zonescontain the single icon image element 570. Specifically, the icon imageelement 572 is present in half of the icon zones, icon image element 574is present in three-fourths of the icon zones, icon image element 578 ispresent in half of the icon zones, and icon image element 576 is presentin one-third of the icon zones. The information present in each iconzone determines whether its associated lens will show the color of theicon image pattern or the color of the icon image background from aparticular viewing orientation. Either image elements 572 or 578 will bevisible in all of the lenses associated with this icon pattern, but thesynthetic image 580 space of icon image element 572 overlaps thesynthetic image space of icon image element 578. This means that theoverlap zone 582 of the synthetic images of icons 572 and 578 willappear at 100% color density, because every lens will project icon imagecolor in this zone. The non-overlapping part of these two syntheticimages, 588, is only visible in 50% of the lenses, so it appears at 50%color density. The synthetic image 586 of icon element 576 is visible inonly one third of the lenses, so it appears at 33.3 . . . % density. Thesynthetic image 584 of icon image element 576 correspondingly appears at75% color density. It is clear within the scope of this teaching that atremendous range of tonal variations can be obtained in the syntheticimage through selective omission of icon image elements in selectedpercentages of icon zones. For greatest effectiveness the distributionsof the icon image elements across the icon image zones should berelatively uniform.

A related icon image design method, illustrated in FIG. 24 a, can beused to create combined synthetic image elements that are smaller indimension than the smallest feature of the individual synthetic imageelements. This is possible in the common circumstance where the smallestfeature size of an icon image is larger than the placement accuracy ofthe feature. Thus an icon image may have minimum features on the orderof two microns in dimension, but those features may be placed accuratelyon any point on a grid of 0.25 micron spacing. In this case the smallestfeature of the icon image is eight times larger than the placementaccuracy of that feature. As with the previous diagram this method isillustrated using a hexagonal icon pattern 594, but it applies equallywell to any other usable pattern symmetry. In similar fashion to themethod of FIG. 23, this method relies on the use of differentinformation in at least one icon zone. In the example of FIG. 24 a twodifferent icon patterns, 596 and 598, are each present in half of theicon zones (for clarity only one of each pattern is shown in thisfigure). These icon images produce a composite synthetic image 600 thatincorporates synthetic image 602 created by icon image elements 596, andsynthetic image 604, created by icon image elements 598. The twosynthetic images, 602 and 604, are designed to have overlapped areas,606 and 608, that appear to have 100% color density while thenon-overlapped areas 605 have 50% color density. The minimum dimensionof the overlapped areas in the composite synthetic image may be as smallas the synthetic magnification-scaled positioning accuracy of the iconimage elements, and therefore may be smaller than the minimum featuresize of the two constituent synthetic images that are designed tooverlap in a small region. In the example of FIG. 23, the overlapregions are used to create the characters for the number “10” withnarrower lines than would otherwise be possible.

This method can also be used to create narrow patterns of gaps betweenicon image elements, as shown in FIG. 24 b. Hexagonal icon zones 609could be square or any other suitable shape to make a space-fillingarray, but hexagonal is preferred. In this example, half the iconpatterns the icon image 610, and half of them are the icon image 611.Ideally these two patterns would be relatively uniformly distributedamong the icon zones. All of the elements of these patterns are depictedas being of substantially equal and uniform color density. In isolationthese two patterns do not clearly suggest the form of the final image,and this can be used as a security element—the image is not obviousuntil it is formed by the overlying lens array. One instance of thesynthetic image 612 formed by the combination of the synthetic image oficon elements 610 with the synthetic image of icon elements 611 isshown, whereby the gaps that remain between the separate syntheticimages form the numeral “10”. In this case, two synthetic images arecombined to form the final synthetic image, so the colored parts of thisimage 613 show 50% color density. This method is not limited by thedetails of this example: three icons could have been used instead oftwo, the gaps defining the desired element in the composite syntheticimages can have variable widths and unlimited shape variety, and thismethod can be combined with either the methods of FIGS. 23, 24 a,b or25, or an other icon image design method we have taught.

Covert, hidden information can be incorporated into the icon images thatcannot be seen in the resulting synthetic images. Having such covertinformation hidden in the icon images can be used, for example, forcovert authentication of an object. Two methods for accomplishing thisare illustrated by FIG. 25. The first method is illustrated by the useof matched icon images 616 and 618. Icon image 616 shows a solid borderpattern and the number “42” contained inside of the border. Icon image618 shows a solid shape with the number “42” as a graphical hole in thatshape. In this example, the perimeter shapes of icon images 616 and 618are substantially identical and their relative position within theirrespective icon zones, 634 and 636, are also substantially identical.When a composite synthetic image 620 is created from these icon images,the border of the composite synthetic image 622 will show 100% colordensity because all icon images have a pattern in that correspondingarea, so there is full overlap in the synthetic images created from iconimages 616 and 618. The color density of the interior 624 of thecomposite synthetic image 620 will be 50%, since the image of the spacesurrounding the “42” comes from icon images 618 that only fill half theicon zones, and the image of the colored “42” comes from icon images 616that also fill half the icon zones. Consequently, there is no tonaldifferentiation between the “42” and its background, so the observedcomposite synthetic image 626 will show an image having a 100% colordensity border 628 and a 50% color density interior 630. The “42”covertly present in all of the icon images 616 and 618 is thereby“neutralized” and will not be seen in the observed composite syntheticimage 626.

A second method for incorporating covert information into icon images isillustrated by triangles 632 in FIG. 25. Triangles 632 may be randomlyplaced within the icon zones (not shown in this figure) or they can beplaced in an array or other pattern that does not substantially matchthe period of the icon zones 634, 632. Synthetic images are created froma multiplicity of regularly arrayed icon images that are imaged by acorresponding regular array of micro-lenses. Patterns in the icon planethat do not substantially correspond to the period of the micro-lensarray will not form complete synthetic images. The pattern of triangles632 therefore will not create a coherent synthetic image and will not bevisible in the observed synthetic image 626. This method is not limitedto simple geometric designs, such as triangles 632: other covertinformation, such as alpha-numeric information, bar codes, data bits,and large-scale patterns can be incorporated into the icon plane withthis method.

FIG. 26 illustrates a general approach to creating fully threedimensional integral images in a Unison material (Unison 3-D). A singleicon zone 640 contains icon image 642 that represents a scale-distortedview of an object to be displayed in 3-D as seen from the vantage pointof that icon zone 640. In this case the icon image 642 is designed toform a synthetic image 670 of a hollow cube 674. Icon image 642 has aforeground frame 644 that represents the nearest side 674 of hollow cube672, tapered gap patterns 646 that represent the corners 676 of thehollow cube 672, and a background frame 648 that represents the farthestside 678 of the hollow cube 672. It can be seen that the relativeproportions of the foreground frame 644 and the background frame 648 inthe icon image 642 do not correspond to the proportions of the nearestside 674 and the farthest side 678 of the synthetic image hollow cube672. The reason for the difference in scale is that images that are toappear further from the plane of the Unison material experience greatermagnification, so their size in the icon image must be reduced in orderto provide the correct scale upon magnification to form the syntheticimage 672.

At a different location on the Unison 3-D material we find icon zone 650that includes a different icon image 652. As with icon image 642, iconimage 652 represents a scale-distorted view of the synthetic image 672as seen from the different vantage point of this icon zone 650. Therelative scaling of foreground frame 654 and background frame 658 aresimilar to the corresponding elements of icon image 642 (although thiswill not be true, in general), but the position of the background frame658 has shifted, along with the size and orientation of the cornerpatterns 656. Icon zone 660 is located a further distance away on theUnison 3-D material and it presents yet another scale-distorted iconimage 662, including icon image 662 with foreground frame 664, taperedgap patterns 667, and background frame 668.

In general, the icon image in each icon zone in a Unison 3-D materialwill be slightly different from its nearby neighbors and may besignificantly different from its distant neighbors. It can be seen thaticon image 652 represents a transitional stage between icon images 642and 662. In general, each icon image in a Unison 3-D material may beunique, but each will represent a transitional stage between the iconimages to either side of it.

Synthetic image 670 is formed from a multiplicity of icon images likeicon images 640, 650, and 660 as synthetically imaged through anassociated lens array. The synthetic image of the hollow cube 674 showsthe effects of the different synthetic magnification factors that resultfrom the effective repeat periods of the different elements of each ofthe icon images. Let us assume that the hollow cube image 674 isintended to be viewed as a SuperDeep image. In this case if icon zone640 was disposed some distance to the lower left of icon zone 650, andicon zone 660 was disposed some distance to the upper right of icon zone650, it can be seen that the effective period of the foreground frames644, 654, and 664 will be less than that of the background frames 648,658, and 668, thereby causing the closest face 676 of the cube(corresponding to the foreground frames 644, 654, and 664) to lie closerto the plane of the Unison material and the farthest face 678 of thecube to lie deeper and further from the plane of the Unison material,and to be magnified by a greater factor. The corner elements 646, 656,and 667 coordinate with both the foreground and background elements tocreate the effect of smoothly changing depth between them. The method ofdesigning icon images for Unison 3-D is more fully described in FIG. 27.This figure isolates the method for a single image projector 680. Aspreviously described, a single image projector includes a lens, anoptical spacer, and an icon image; the icon image having substantiallythe same dimensions as the repeat period of the lens (allowing for thesmall differences in scale that create the Unison visual effects). Thefield of view for the lens and its associated icon is shown as the cone682: this also corresponds to an inversion of the focal cone of thelens, so the proportions of the field of view cone 682 are determined bythe F# of the lens. Although the figure shows this cone as having acircular base, the base shape will actually be the same as the shape ofan icon zone, such as a hexagon.

In this example we wish to create a Unison 3-D synthetic image thatincorporates three copies of the word “UNISON”, 686, 690 and 694, at thesame visual size at three different SuperDeep image planes 684, 690, and692. The diameter of the image planes 684, 688, and 692 expands with thefield of view cone: in other words, as the depth of image increases,area covered by the field of view cone increases. Thus the field of viewat the shallowest depth plane 684 only encompasses portions of “NIS” ofthe word UNISON, while the middle depth plane 688 encompasses all of“NIS” and portions of “U” and “O” and the deepest depth plane 692encompasses almost all of “UNISON”, lacking only part of the final “N”.

The information they presented (UNISONs 686, 690, and 694) by each ofthese synthetic image planes 684, 688, and 692, must ultimately beincorporated into a single icon image in image projector 680. This isaccomplished by capturing the information in the field of view cone 686at each depth plane 684, 688, and 692, then scaling the resulting iconimage patterns to the same dimensions. Icon image 696 represents thefield of view of UNISON image 686 as seen at depth plane 684, icon image704 represents the field of view of UNISON image 690 as seen at depthplane 688, and icon image 716 represents the field of view of UNISONimage 694 as seen at depth plane 692.

Within icon image 696 icon image elements 698 originate from a portionof the first “N” of UNISON image 686, icon image element 700 originatesfrom a portion of the “I” of UNISON image 686, and icon image elements702 originate from portions of the “S” of UNISON image 686. Within iconimage 704 icon image element 706 originates from a portion of the “U” ofUNISON image 690, icon image element 708 originates from the first “N”of UNISON image 690, icon image element 710 originates from the “S” ofUNISON image 690, and icon image element 714 originates from a portionof the “O” of UNISON image 690. Note that although the synthetic images686, 690, and 694 are presented at similar scale, icon image 704 for themiddle depth plane 688 presents its UNISON letters at a smaller scalethan those of icon image 696. This accounts for the higher syntheticmagnification that icon image 704 will experience (when syntheticallycombined with a multiplicity of surrounding icon images for the samedepth plane). In similar manner, icon image 716 incorporates icon imageelements 718 that originate from the UNISON image 694 and the UNISONletters incorporated in its icon image are at a further reduced scale.

The final icon image for this image projector is created by combiningthese three icon images 696, 704, and 716 into a single icon image 730,shown in FIG. 28. The combined icon elements 732 incorporate all of thegraphical and depth information necessary for the image projector 680 tomake its contribution to the synthetic image formed from a multiplicityof image projectors, each incorporating the specific icon imageinformation that results from the intersection of its own field of viewcone, centered on the image projector, with the levels and elements ofthe synthetic image to be produced. Since each image projector isdisplaced by at least one lens repeat period from every other imageprojector, each image projector will carry different informationresulting from the intersection of its field of view cone with thesynthetic image space.

Each of the icon images required to present a chosen 3-D image can becomputed from knowledge of the three-dimensional digital model of thesynthetic image, desired depth position and depth span to be presentedin the synthetic image, the lens repeat period, the lens field of view,and the ultimate graphical resolution of the icon images. This latterfactor puts an upper limit on the level of detail that can be presentedat each depth plane. Since depth planes that lie further from the planeof the Unison material carry a larger amount of information (because ofthe increased field of view) the graphical resolution limit of the iconshas the greatest impact on the resolution of these synthetic image depthplanes.

FIG. 29 illustrates how the method of FIG. 27 can be applied to acomplex three-dimensional synthetic image, such as an image of thepriceless ice-age carved mammoth ivory artifact, the Lady of Brassempouy742. Individual image projector 738, incorporating at least a lens, anoptical spacing element, and an icon image (not shown in this figure),lies in the plane 740 of a Unison material that separate the floatsynthetic image space from the deep synthetic image space. In thisexample the synthetic image space spans the Unison material such that aportion of the image lies in the float synthetic image space and aportion lies in the deep synthetic image space. The image projector 738has a substantially conical field of view that extends both into thedeep synthetic image space 744 and into the float synthetic image space746. A chosen number of deep image planes are selected, 748 and 752-762,at whatever spacing is required to obtain the deep synthetic image spaceresolution desired. Similarly, a chosen number of float image planes areselected, 750 and 764-774, at whatever spacing is required to obtain thefloat synthetic image space resolution desired. Some of these planes,such as deep planes 748 and float planes 750 will extend beyond thesynthetic image and will not contribute to the final information in theicon image. For clarity, the number of image planes shown in FIG. 29 islimited to a small number but the actual number of image planes selectedmay be high, such as 50 or 100 planes, or more, to obtain the desiredsynthetic image depth resolution.

The method of FIGS. 27 and 28 is then applied to obtain the icon imageat each depth plane by determining the shape of the intersection of thesurface of the object 742 with the selected depth plane 756-774. Theresulting separate icon images are scaled to the final size of thecombined icon image. All of the float icon images are first rotated 180degrees (because they undergo that rotation again when they areprojected, thereby returning them to their correct orientation in thesynthetic image) then they are combined with the deep icon images toform the final icon image for this image projector 738. This process isrepeated for each of the positions of the image projectors to obtain thecomplete pattern of icon images required to form the full syntheticimage 742.

The resolution of the synthetic image depends on the resolution of theoptical projectors and the graphical resolution of the icon images. Wehave obtained icon image graphical resolutions, less than 0.1 micron,that exceed the theoretical optical resolution limit of magnifyingoptics (0.2 micron). A typical icon image is created with a resolutionof 0.25 micron.

Unison materials can be manufactured by sheet or web processingutilizing tools that separately incorporate the lens and iconmicrostructures. Both the lens tools and the icon tools are originatedusing photomasks and photoresist methods.

Lens tools are initially designed as semiconductor-type masks, typicallyblack chrome on glass. Masks having sufficient resolution can be createdby photoreduction, electron beam writing, or laser writing. A typicalmask for a lens tool will incorporate a repeating pattern of opaquehexagons at a chosen period such as 30 microns, with clear linesseparating the hexagons that are less than 2 microns wide. This mask isthen used to expose photoresist on a glass plate using a conventionalsemiconductor UV exposure system. The thickness of the resist isselected to obtain the desired sag of the lens. For example, a thicknessof 5 microns of AZ 4620 positive photoresist is coated onto a glassplate by suitable means, such as by spin coating, dip coating, meniscuscoating, or spraying, to form lenses having a nominal 30 micron repeatand a nominal 35 micron focal length. The photoresist is exposed withthe mask pattern, and developed down to the glass in a conventionalmanner, then dried and degassed at 100° C. for 30 minutes. The lensesare formed by thermal reflow according to standard methods that areknown in the art. The resulting photoresist micro-lenses are coated witha conductive metal, such as gold or silver, and a negative nickel toolis created by electroforming.

Icon tools are created in a similar manner. An icon pattern is typicallydesigned with the aid of CAD software and this design is transmitted toa semiconductor mask manufacturer. This mask is used in similar mannerto the lens mask, except the thickness of the resist to be exposed istypically in the range of 0.5 micron to 8 microns, depending on theoptical density of the desired synthetic image. The photoresist isexposed with the mask pattern, developed down to glass in a conventionalmanner, coated with a conductive metal, and a negative nickel tool iscreated by electroforming. According the choice of original mask designand in the choice of resist type used (positive or negative), the iconscan be created in the form of voids in the resist pattern or they can becreated in the form of “mesas” or posts in the resist pattern, or both.

Unison materials can be manufactured from a variety of materials and amultiplicity of methods that are known in the art of micro-optic andmicrostructure replication, including extrusion embossing, radiationcured casting, soft embossing, and injection molding, reaction injectionmolding, and reaction casting. An exemplary method of manufacture is toform the icons as voids in a radiation cured liquid polymer that is castagainst a base film, such as 75 gage adhesion-promoted PET film, then toform the lenses from radiation cured polymer on the opposite face of thebase film in correct alignment or skew with respect to the icons, thento fill the icon voids with a submicron particle pigmented coloringmaterial by gravure-like doctor blading against the film surface,solidify the fill by suitable means (ex: solvent removal, radiationcuring, or chemical reaction), and finally apply an optional sealinglayer that may be either clear, dyed, pigmented, or incorporate covertsecurity materials.

The manufacture of Unison Motion material requires that the icon tooland the lens tool incorporate a chosen degree of misalignment of theaxes of symmetry of the two arrays. This misalignment of the icon andlens patterns axes of symmetry controls the synthetic image size andsynthetic image rotation in the produced material. It is often desirableto provide the synthetic images substantially aligned with either theweb direction or the cross-web direction, and in these cases the totalangular misalignment of the icons and the lenses is divided equallybetween the lens pattern and the icon pattern. The degree of angularmisalignment required is usually quite small. For example, a totalangular misalignment on the order of 0.3 degree is suitable to magnify30 micron icon images to a size of 5.7 mm in a Unison Motion material.In this example, the total angular misalignment is divided equallybetween the two tools, so each tool is skewed through an angle of 0.15degree in the same direction for both tools. The skew is in the samedirection because the tools form microstructures on opposite faces of abase film, so the skews of the tools add to each other, instead ofcanceling each other.

Skew can be incorporated into the tools at the time of the originaldesign of the masks by rotating the whole pattern through the desiredangle before writing it. Skew can also be mechanically incorporated intoa flat nickel tool by cutting it at the appropriate angle with anumerically controlled mill. The skewed tool is then formed into acylindrical tool using the skew-cut edge to align the tool to therotational axis of an impression cylinder.

The synthetic magnification micro-optic system herein can be combinedwith additional features including but not limited to these embodimentsas single elements or in various combinations, such as icon fillmaterials, back coatings, top coatings, both patterned andnon-patterned, fill or inclusions in the lens, optical spacer or iconmaterials, as a laminate or coating. inks and or adhesives includingaqueous, solvent or radiation curable, optically transparent,translucent or opaque, pigmented or dyed Indicia in the form of positiveor negative material, coatings, or print including but not limited toinks, metals, fluorescent, or magnetic materials, X-ray, infrared, orultra-violet absorbent or emitting materials, metals both magnetic andnon-magnetic including aluminum, nickel, chrome, silver, and gold;magnetic coatings and particles for detection or information storage;fluorescent dye and pigments as coatings and particles; IR fluorescentcoatings, fill, dyes or particles; UV fluorescent coatings, fill, dyesor particles; phosphorescent dye and pigments as coatings and particles,planchettes, DNA, RNA or other macro-molecule taggants, dichroic fibers,radioisotopes, print receptive coatings, sizing, or primers, chemicallyreactive materials, micro-encapsulated ingredients, field affectedmaterials, conductive particles and coatings both metallic andnon-metallic, micro-perforated holes, colored threads or fibers, patchesof Unison embedded in the surface of a document, label, or materialssurface, bonded to paper or polymer as a carrier to adhere to paperduring manufacture, fluorescent Dichroic threads or particles, ramanscattering coatings or particles, color shifting coatings or particles,Unison laminated to paper, paper board, card board, plastic, ceramic,fabric, or metal substrate, Unison as a thread, patch, label, over wrap,hot stamp foil, or tear tape, holographic, diffractive, diffractivekinegram, isograms, photographic or refractive optical elements, liquidcrystal materials, Up Conversion and Down Conversion materials.

The synthetic magnification micro-optic system herein has many fields ofuse and applications. Examples include:

Government and defense applications—whether Federal, State or Foreign(such as Passports, ID Cards, Driver's Licenses, Visas, BirthCertificates, Vital Records, Voter Registration Cards, Voting Ballots,Social Security Cards, Bonds, Food Stamps, Postage Stamps, and TaxStamps);

currency—whether Federal, State or Foreign (such as security threads inpaper currency, features in polymer currency, and features on papercurrency);

documents (such as Titles, Deeds, Licenses, Diplomas, and Certificates);

financial and negotiable instruments (such as Certified Bank Checks,Corporate Checks, Personal Checks, Bank Vouchers, Stock Certificates,Travelers'Checks, Money Orders, Credit cards, Debit cards, ATM cards,Affinity cards, Prepaid Phone cards, and Gift Cards);

confidential information (such as Movie Scripts, Legal Documents,Intellectual Property, Medical Records/Hospital Records, PrescriptionForms/Pads, and “Secret Recipes”);

product and brand protection, including Fabric & Home Care (such asLaundry Detergents, fabric conditioners, dish care, household cleaners,surface coatings, fabric refreshers, bleach, and care for specialfabrics);

beauty care (such as Hair care, hair color, skin care & cleansing,cosmetics, fragrances, antiperspirants & deodorants, feminine protectionpads, tampons and pantiliners);

baby and family care (such as Baby diapers, baby and toddler wipes, babybibs, baby change & bed mats, paper towels, toilet tissue, and facialtissue);

health care (such as Oral care, pet health and nutrition, prescriptionpharmaceuticals, over-the counter pharmaceuticals, drug delivery andpersonal health care, prescription vitamins and sports and nutritionalsupplements; prescription and non-prescription eyewear; Medical devicesand equipment sold to Hospitals, Medical Professionals, and WholesaleMedical Distributors (ie: bandages, equipment, implantable devices,surgical supplies);

food and beverage packaging;

dry goods packaging;

electronic equipment, parts & vomponents;

apparel and footwear, including sportswear clothing, footwear, licensedand non-licensed upscale, sports and luxury apparel items, fabric;

biotech pharmaceuticals;

aerospace components and parts;

automotive components and parts;

sporting goods;

tobacco Products;

software;

compact disks and DVD's;

explosives;

novelty items (such as gift wrap and ribbon)

books and magazines;

school products and office supplies;

business cards;

shipping documentation and packaging;

notebook covers;

book covers;

book marks;

event and transportation tickets;

gambling and gaming applications (such as Lottery tickets, game cards,casino chips and items for use at or with casinos, raffle andsweepstakes);

home furnishing (such as towels, linens, and furniture);

flooring and wallcoverings;

jewelry & watches;

handbags;

art, collectibles and memorabilia;

toys;

displays (such as Point of Purchase and Merchandising displays);

product marking and labeling (such as labels, hangtags, tags, threads,tear strips, over-wraps, securing a tamperproof image applied to abranded product or document for authentication or enhancement, ascamouflage, and as asset tracking.

Suitable materials for the embodiments described above include a widerange of polymers. Acrylics, acrylated polyesters, acrylated urethanes,polypropylenes, urethanes, and polyesters have suitable optical andmechanical properties for both the microlenses and the microstructuredicon elements. Suitable materials for the optional substrate filminclude most of the commercially available polymer films, includingacrylic, cellophane, Saran, nylon, polycarbonate, polyester,polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyvinyl. Microstructured icon fillmaterials can include any of the materials listed above as suitable formaking microstructured icon elements, as well as solvent based inks andother commonly available pigment or dye vehicles. Dyes or pigmentsincorporated into these materials should be compatible with the chemicalmakeup of the vehicle. Pigments must have a particle size that issubstantially smaller than the smallest dimensions of any component ofan icon element. Optional sealing layer materials can include any of thematerials listed above as suitable for making microstructured iconelements, plus many different commercially available paints, inks,overcoats, varnishes, laquers, and clear coats used in the printing andpaper and film converting industries. There is no preferred combinationof materials—the choice of materials depends o the details of thematerial geometry, on the optical properties of the system, and on theoptical effect that is desired.

Although exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will beclear to those of ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes,modifications, or alterations to the invention as described can be made.All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore beseen as within the scope of the disclosure.

1. A synthetic magnification micro-optic system comprising: (a) an arrayof image icons; and (b) an array of image icon focusing elements, thearray of image icon focusing elements being disposed in relation to thearray of the image icons at a distance sufficient for the image focusingelements to form at least one synthetically magnified image of at leasta portion of the image icons, wherein at least a portion of the imageicons are arranged in relation to at least a portion of the focusingelements in a manner such that the at least one synthetically magnifiedimage appears to transform from one or more of a form, shape, size, orcolor to another of a form, shape, size or color, the system comprisingthe array of image icons and the array of image icon focusing elementshaving a thickness of less than 50 microns.
 2. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the focusingelements are non-cylindrical focusing elements.
 3. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 2, wherein the focusingelements are aspheric focusing elements.
 4. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the focusing elements have basegeometries selected from the group consisting of a circular base, ahexagonal base, a rounded off hexagonal base, a square base, a roundedoff square base, a triangular base, and a rounded off triangular base.5. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, whereinthe focusing elements have an F number equivalent to 4 or less.
 6. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 2, wherein thefocusing elements have an F number equivalent to 4 or less.
 7. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, each focusingelement having an effective diameter of from about 10 to about 30microns.
 8. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1,each focusing element having an effective diameter of less than 30microns.
 9. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1,having a total thickness of less than about 45 microns.
 10. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, having a totalthickness of about 10 to about 40 microns.
 11. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, each focusing elementhaving a focal length of less than about 40 microns.
 12. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, each focusing elementhaving a focal length of about 10 to less than about 50 microns.
 13. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein amorphing effect is provided for causing one synthetically magnifiedimage to morph into another synthetically magnified image.
 14. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, each image iconbeing formed from a printing method selected from the group consistingof ink jet, laserjet, letterpress, flexo, gravure, intaglio, and dyesublimation printing methods.
 15. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the image icons are formed asrecesses in a substrate, the recesses forming voids that optionally maybe filled with a material having a different refractive index than thesubstrate, a dyed material, a metal, or a pigmented material.
 16. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, having aplurality of layers of image icons at different depths in the system andthe focusing elements having differing focal lengths for focusing at thedifferent depths of the plurality of layers of image icons in thesystem.
 17. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1,wherein the focusing elements are non-cylindrical lenses and areflective layer is positioned adjacent to the surface of the array ofmicro image icons opposite the focusing elements.
 18. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, including a transparenttamper indicating material placed over the focusing elements.
 19. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, including asecond periodic array of focusing elements placed substantially parallelto the side of the array of micro image icons opposite the focusingelements.
 20. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim19, having a second array of image icons in between the two arrays offocusing elements.
 21. A method of producing a synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an array ofimage icons; (b) providing an array of image icon focusing elements; and(c) disposing the array of image icon focusing elements in relation tothe array of image icons at a distance sufficient for the image focusingelements to form at least one synthetically magnified image of at leasta portion of the image icons, wherein at least a portion of the imageicons are arranged in relation to at least a portion of the focusingelements in a manner such that the at least one synthetically magnifiedimage appears to transform from one or more of a form, shape, size, orcolor to another of a form, shape, size or color, the system comprisingthe array of image icons and the array of image icon focusing elementshaving a thickness of less than 50 microns.
 22. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the focusingelements are selected from refractive, diffractive, reflective andhybrid refractive/diffractive focusing elements.
 23. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the image iconfocusing elements are polygonal base multi-zonal focusing elementshaving polygonal base geometries in the plane of their planar array. 24.The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein thearray of focusing elements has at least two substantially equivalentaxes of symmetry.
 25. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system ofclaim 1, wherein the focusing elements provide an enlarged field of viewover the width of the image icons correlated with the focusing elementsso that the peripheral edges of the correlated image icons do not dropout of view.
 26. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim1, further including one or more optical spacers positioned between thearray of image icons and the array of image icon focusing elements. 27.The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein theimage icons are formed from patterns of colorless, transparent, opaque,ink, colored, tinted or dyed material.
 28. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the image icons are formed asprotrusions in the surface of a substrate, the spaces between theprotrusions optionally being filled with a material having a differentindex of refraction than the substrate, a dyed material, a metal, or apigmented material.
 29. The synthetic magnification micro-optic systemof claim 1, wherein the image icons are either positive or negativeicons in relation to their background and include image icons that aretransparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent,metallized, substantially retroreflective, or display optically variablecolor.
 30. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1,wherein the image icons are either positive or negative icons inrelation to their background and have a background that is transparent,translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent, metallized,substantially retroreflective, or displays optically variable color. 31.The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein theimage icons are either positive or negative icons in relation to theirbackground and include image icons formed from printing,microstructures, deposited metallization, patterned metallization, orpatterned demetallization.
 32. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, wherein the image icons are either positive ornegative icons in relation to their background and are formed in aphotographic emulsion.
 33. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, wherein the image icons are either positive ornegative icons in relation to their background and include image iconsformed of non-fluorescing pigments, non-fluorescing dyes, fluorescingpigments, fluorescing dyes, metal, metal particles, magnetic particles,nuclear magnetic resonance signature materials, lasing particles,organic LED materials, optically variable materials, evaporatedmaterials, sputtered materials, chemically deposited materials, vapordeposited materials, thin film interference materials, liquid crystalpolymers, optical upconversion and/or downconversion materials, dichroicmaterials, optically active materials, or optically polarizingmaterials.
 34. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim1, wherein the image icons are either positive or negative icons inrelation to their background and are formed by direct metallization orlamination.
 35. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim1, wherein the image icons are either positive or negative icons inrelation to their background and are formed by evaporation, sputteringor chemical deposition, or chemical vapor deposition process.
 36. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 35, wherein theformation process involves a metal material.
 37. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the image icons areeither positive or negative icons in relation to their background andare formed by patterned demetallization.
 38. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 17, wherein the reflective layer ismetallized.
 39. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim1, wherein the system is protected by a sealing layer, the sealing layerbeing applied to the side of the array of a plurality of image iconsopposite the array of focusing elements, the sealing layer having atleast a portion that is transparent, translucent, tinted, pigmented,opaque, metallic, magnetic, or optically variable.
 40. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 39 wherein the sealing layerincludes optical effects.
 41. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, having interstitial spaces between the focusingelements, the interstitial spaces optionally being filled.
 42. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, including atamper indicating layer.
 43. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, wherein the image icons are either positive ornegative icons in relation to a background on which they appear.
 44. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein uponillumination of the system the synthetically magnified image appears tohave a shadow.
 45. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system ofclaim 1, wherein the synthetically magnified image further appears tolie on a spatial plane deeper than the system.
 46. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the syntheticallymagnified image further appears to lie on a spatial plane above thesystem.
 47. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1,wherein the synthetically magnified image further appears to movebetween a spatial plane deeper than the system and a spatial plane abovethe system upon rotation of the system about an axis that intersects theplane of the system.
 48. The synthetic magnification micro-optic systemof claim 1, wherein the synthetically magnified image further appears totransform from one or more of a form, shape, size or color to another ofa form, shape, size or color.
 49. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 48, wherein the transformation is producedby scale distortions of either or both of an image icon repeat periodand a focusing element repeat period.
 50. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 48, wherein the transformation is producedby incorporating spatially varying information in the image icon array.51. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, whereinthe synthetically magnified image further appears to be threedimensional.
 52. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim1, wherein the synthetically magnified image appears to have additionaleffects selected from two or more of appearing to lie on a spatial planedeeper than the system, appearing to lie on a spatial plane above thesystem, appearing to move between a spatial plane deeper than the systemand a spatial plane above the system upon rotation of the system aboutan axis that intersects the plane of the system, appearing to move in adirection parallel to an axis of tilt of the system upon tilting thesystem about an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the system,appearing to transform from one or more of a form, shape, size or colorto another or a form, shape, size or color, and appearing to be threedimensional.
 53. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim52, wherein the two or more effects may or may not have the same coloror graphical elements.
 54. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 52, wherein the two or more effects appear on differentimage planes.
 55. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system ofclaim 54, wherein the different image planes are further different in atleast one of form, color, movement direction of the effect, ormagnification.
 56. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system ofclaim 1, wherein the synthetically magnified image further appears tohave at least one of a plurality of patterns, colors or shapes.
 57. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein thefocusing elements provide vertical blurring of a central focal zone ofthe focusing elements.
 58. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, further including a plurality of arrays having aplurality of image icons spaced a plurality of distances from the arrayof image icon focusing elements, and wherein the array of image iconfocusing elements includes focusing elements having a plurality of focallengths corresponding to the various spaced distances of the planararrays of image icons.
 59. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, wherein the focusing elements are aspheric focusingelements, and wherein the image icons are formed as recesses in asubstrate, the recesses forming voids that optionally may be filled witha material having a different refractive index than the substrate, adyed material, a metal, or a pigmented material.
 60. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the focusingelements include pin hole optics.
 61. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the focusing elements have an Fnumber selected to reduce vertical binocular disparity.
 62. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 61, wherein the Fnumber is less than
 1. 63. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, wherein the focusing elements have a base diameter of35 microns and a focal length of 30 microns.
 64. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 1, further including a surfacelayer that must be removed for the synthetic image to be viewed.
 65. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, further includingan optical spacer positioned between the planar array of image icons andthe planar array of image icon focusing elements, the optical spacerhaving a thickness of about 8 microns to about 25 microns.
 66. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, further includingan optical spacer formed of an essentially transparent polymer.
 67. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 66, further whereinthe transparent polymer is selected from the group consisting ofpolyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, andpolyvinyl chloride.
 68. The synthetic magnification micro-optic systemof claim 1, wherein the image icons are formed as recesses in asubstrate, the recesses forming voids that optionally are filled with amaterial providing a contrast with the substrate.
 69. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 68, wherein the icon recesseshave a recess depth of about 0.5 microns to about 8 microns.
 70. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, applied to anarticle, wherein the article is selected from the group of: Passports,ID Cards, Driver's Licenses, Visas, Birth Certificates, Vital Records,Voter Registration Cards, Voting Ballots, Social Security Cards, Bonds,Food Stamps, Postage Stamps, and Tax Stamps; Currency, security threadsin paper currency, features in polymer currency, and features on papercurrency; Titles, Deeds, Licenses, Diplomas, and Certificates; CertifiedBank Checks, Corporate Checks, Personal Checks, Bank Vouchers, StockCertificates, Travelers'Checks, Money Orders, Credit cards, Debit cards,ATM cards, Affinity cards, Prepaid Phone cards, and Gift Cards; MovieScripts, Legal Documents, Intellectual Property, MedicalRecords/Hospital Records, Prescription Forms/Pads, and Secret Recipes;Fabric and home care goods; beauty products; baby and family careproducts; health care products; food and beverage packaging; dry goodspackaging; electronic equipment, parts and components; apparel,sportswear and footwear products; biotech pharmaceuticals; aerospacecomponents and parts; automotive components and parts; sporting goods;tobacco products; software; compact disks and DVD's; explosives; noveltyitems, gift wrap and ribbon; books and magazines; school products andoffice supplies; business cards; shipping documentation and packaging;notebook covers; book covers; book marks; event and transportationtickets; gambling and gaming products and devices; home furnishingproducts; flooring and wall coverings; jewelry and watches; handbags;art, collectibles and memorabilia; toys; point of purchase andmerchandising displays; and product marking and labeling articlesapplied to a branded product or document for authentication orenhancement, as camouflage, or for asset tracking.
 71. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the focusing elements are selected from refractive,diffractive, reflective and hybrid refractive/diffractive focusingelements.
 72. The method of claim 21, wherein the image icon focusingelements are polygonal base multi-zonal focusing elements havingpolygonal base geometries in the plane of their planar array.
 73. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the array of focusing elements has at leasttwo substantially equivalent axes of symmetry.
 74. The method of claim21, wherein the focusing elements provide an enlarged field of view overthe width of the image icons correlated with the focusing elements sothat the peripheral edges of the correlated image icons do not drop outof view.
 75. The method of claim 21, further including one or moreoptical spacers positioned between the array of image icons and thearray of image icon focusing elements.
 76. The method of claim 21,wherein the image icons are formed from patterns of colorless,transparent, opaque, ink, colored, tinted or dyed material.
 77. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the image icons are formed as protrusions inthe surface of a substrate, the spaces between the protrusionsoptionally being filled with a material having a different index ofrefraction than the substrate, a dyed material, a metal, a pigmentedmaterial, or combinations thereof.
 78. The method of claim 21, whereinthe image icons are either positive or negative icons in relation to abackground on which they appear.
 79. The method of claim 21, wherein theimage icons are either positive or negative icons in relation to theirbackground and are transparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent,phosphorescent, metallized, substantially retroreflective, or displayoptically variable color, or combinations thereof.
 80. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the image icons are either positive or negative iconsin relation to their background and have a background that istransparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent,metallized, substantially retroreflective, or displays opticallyvariable color.
 81. The method of claim 21, wherein the image icons areeither positive or negative icons in relation to their background andinclude image icons formed from printing, microstructures, depositedmetallization, patterned metallization, or patterned demetallization.82. The method of claim 21, wherein the image icons are either positiveor negative icons in relation to their background and are formed in aphotographic emulsion.
 83. The method of claim 21, wherein the imageicons are either positive or negative icons in relation to theirbackground and include image icons formed of non-fluorescing pigments,non-fluorescing dyes, fluorescing pigments, fluorescing dyes, metal,metal particles, magnetic particles, nuclear magnetic resonancesignature materials, lasing particles, organic LED materials, opticallyvariable materials, evaporated materials, sputtered materials,chemically deposited materials, vapor deposited materials, thin filminterference materials, liquid crystal polymers, optical upconversionand/or downconversion materials, dichroic materials, optically activematerials, or optically polarizing materials.
 84. The method of claim21, wherein the image icons are either positive or negative icons inrelation to their background and are formed by direct metallization orlamination.
 85. The method of claim 21, wherein the image icons areeither positive or negative icons in relation to their background andare formed by evaporation, sputtering, chemical deposition, or chemicalvapor deposition process.
 86. The method of claim 85, wherein theformation process involves a metal material.
 87. The method of claim 21,wherein the image icons are either positive or negative icons inrelation to their background and are formed by patterneddemetallization.
 88. The method of claim 21, wherein the focusingelements are non-cylindrical lenses and a reflective layer is positionedadjacent to the surface of the array of micro image icons opposite theimage icon focusing elements.
 89. The method of claim 88, wherein thereflective layer is metallized.
 90. The method of claim 21, wherein thesystem is protected by a sealing layer, the sealing layer being appliedto the side of the array of a plurality of image icons opposite thearray of focusing elements, the sealing layer having at least a portionthat is transparent, translucent, tinted, pigmented, opaque, metallic,magnetic, or optically variable.
 91. The method of claim 90, wherein thesealing layer includes optical effects.
 92. The method of claim 21,including a tamper indicating layer.
 93. The method of claim 21, whereinupon illumination of the system the synthetically magnified imageappears to have a shadow.
 94. The method of claim 21, wherein thesynthetically magnified image further appears to lie on a spatial planedeeper than the system.
 95. The method of claim 21, wherein thesynthetically magnified image appears to lie on a spatial plane abovethe system.
 96. The method of claim 21, wherein the syntheticallymagnified image further appears to move between a spatial plane deeperthan the system and a spatial plane above the system upon rotation ofthe system about an axis that intersects the plane of the system. 97.The method of claim 21, wherein the synthetically magnified imagefurther appears to transform from one or more or a form, shape, size orcolor to another of a form, shape, size or color.
 98. The method ofclaim 97 wherein the transformation is produced by scale distortions ofeither of both of an image icon repeat period and a focusing elementrepeat period.
 99. The method of claim 97, wherein the transformation isproduced by incorporating spatially varying information in the imageicon array.
 100. The method of claim 21, wherein the syntheticallymagnified image further appears to be three dimensional.
 101. The methodof claim 21, wherein the synthetically magnified image appears to haveadditional effects selected from two or more of appearing to lie on aspatial plane deeper than the system, appearing to lie on a spatialplane above the system, appearing to move between a spatial plane deeperthan the system and a spatial plane above the system upon rotation ofthe system about an axis that intersects the plane of the system,appearing to move in a direction substantially parallel to an axis oftilt of the system upon tilting the system about an axis substantiallyparallel to the plane of the system, appearing to transform from one ormore of a form, shape, size or color to another or a form, shape, sizeor color, and appearing to be three dimensional.
 102. The method ofclaim 101, wherein the two or more effects may or may not have the samecolor or graphical elements.
 103. The device of claim 101, wherein thetwo or more effects appear on different image planes.
 104. The method ofclaim 103, wherein the different image planes are further different inform, color, movement direction of the effect, or magnification, orcombinations thereof.
 105. The method of claim 21, wherein thesynthetically magnified image appears to have a plurality of patterns,colors or shapes or combinations thereof.
 106. The method of claim 21,further including a plurality of arrays having a plurality of imageicons spaced a plurality of distances from the array of image iconfocusing elements, and wherein the array of image icon focusing elementsincludes focusing elements having a plurality of focal lengthscorresponding to the various spaced distances of the arrays of imageicons.
 107. The method of claim 21, wherein the focusing elements areaspheric focusing elements, and wherein the image icons are formed asrecesses in a substrate, the recesses forming voids that optionally maybe filled with a material having a different refractive index than thesubstrate, a dyed material, a metal, or a pigmented material.
 108. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the focusing elements have an F numberselected to reduce vertical binocular disparity.
 109. The method ofclaim 108, wherein the F number is less than
 1. 110. The method of claim21, wherein the focusing elements have a base diameter of 35 microns anda focal length of 30 microns.
 111. The method of claim 21, furtherincluding a surface layer that must be removed for the syntheticallymagnified image to be viewed.
 112. The method of claim 21, furtherincluding an optical spacer positioned between the array of image iconsand the array of image icon focusing elements.
 113. The method of claim21, further including an optical spacer formed of an essentiallytransparent polymer.
 114. The method of claim 113, further wherein thetransparent polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyester,polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinylchloride.
 115. The method of claim 21, wherein the image icons areformed as recesses in a substrate, the recesses forming voids thatoptionally are filled with a material providing a contrast with thesubstrate.
 116. The method of claim 115, wherein the icon recesses havea recess depth of about 0.5 microns to about 8 microns.
 117. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein the imageicon focusing elements include focusing elements having an effectivediameter of less than 50 microns.
 118. The method of claim 21, whereinthe image icon focusing elements include focusing elements having aneffective diameter of less than 50 microns.
 119. The method of claim 21,wherein the focusing elements are non-cylindrical focusing elements.120. The method of claim 21, wherein the focusing elements are asphericfocusing elements.
 121. The method of claim 21, wherein the focusingelements have base geometries selected from the group consisting of acircular base, a hexagonal base, a rounded off hexagonal base, a squarebase, a rounded off square base, a triangular base, and a rounded offtriangular base.
 122. The method of claim 21, wherein the focusingelements have an F number equivalent to 4 or less.
 123. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the focusing elements have an F number equivalent to 2or less.
 124. The method of claim 21, each focusing element having aneffective diameter of from about 10 to about 30 microns.
 125. The methodof claim 21, each focusing element having an effective diameter of lessthan 30 microns.
 126. The method of claim 21, wherein the arrays areformed into a system having a total thickness of less than about 45microns.
 127. The method of claim 21, wherein the arrays are formed intoa system having a total thickness of about 10 to about 40 microns. 128.The method of claim 21, the image icon focusing elements includingfocusing elements having a focal length of less than about 40 microns.129. The method of claim 21, the image icon focusing elements includingfocusing elements having a focal length of about 10 to less than about50 microns.
 130. The method of claim 21, wherein a morphing effect isprovided for causing one synthetically magnified image to morph intoanother synthetically magnified image.
 131. The method of claim 21, theimage icons including image icons being formed from a printing methodselected from the group consisting of ink jet, laserjet, letterpress,flexo, gravure, intaglio, and dye sublimation printing methods.
 132. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the image icons are formed as recesses in asubstrate, the recesses forming voids that optionally may be filled witha material having a different refractive index than the substrate, adyed material, a metal, or a pigmented material.
 133. The method ofclaim 21, wherein a plurality of layers of image icons are provided atdifferent depths in the system, the focusing elements having differingfocal lengths for focusing at the different depths of the plurality oflayers of image icons in the system.
 134. The method of claim 21,wherein the image icon focusing elements are non-cylindrical lenses anda reflective layer is positioned adjacent to the surface of the array ofimage icons opposite the image icon focusing elements.
 135. The methodof claim 21, further providing a transparent tamper indicating materialplaced over the focusing elements.
 136. The method of claim 21, furtherproviding a second periodic array of image icon focusing elements placedto the side of the array of image icons opposite the image icon focusingelements.
 137. The method of claim 136, having a second array of imageicons in between the two arrays of focusing elements.
 138. The method ofclaim 21, further providing interstitial spaces between the focusingelements, the interstitial spaces optionally being filled.
 139. Themethod of claim 21, wherein the synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem forms a second synthetically magnified image exhibiting adifferent optical effect.
 140. The method of claim 139, wherein theoptical effects of the second synthetically magnified image is differentin one or more of form, color, direction of movement or magnification.141. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, whereinthe synthetic magnification micro-optic system forms a secondsynthetically magnified image exhibiting a different optical motioneffect.
 142. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim141, wherein the optical effect of the second synthetically magnifiedimage is different in one or more of form, color, direction of movementor magnification.
 143. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system ofclaim 61, wherein the image icon focusing elements include focusingelements having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns.
 144. Themethod of claim 108, wherein the image icon focusing elements includefocusing elements having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns.145. A synthetic magnification micro-optic system comprising: (a) anarray of image icons; and (b) an array of image icon focusing elements,the array of the image icon focusing elements being disposed in relationto the array of the image icons at a distance sufficient for the imageicon focusing elements to form at least one synthetically magnifiedimage of at least a portion of the image icons, wherein at least aportion of the image icons are arranged in relation to at least aportion of the focusing elements in a manner such that the at least onesynthetically magnified image appears to transform from one or more of aform, shape, size, or color to another of a form, shape, size or color,and wherein the image icons are selected from the group consisting ofpositive image icons, and negative image icons.
 146. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 145 wherein the focusingelements have an F number equivalent to 2 or less.
 147. The syntheticmagnification micro-optic system of claim 145, wherein the image iconfocusing elements include focusing elements having an effective diameterof less than 50 microns.
 148. The synthetic magnification micro-opticsystem of claim 1, wherein the image icon focusing elements includefocusing elements having an effective diameter of about 15 microns toabout 35 microns and a focal length of about 10 microns to about 30microns.
 149. The method of claim 21, wherein the image icon focusingelements include focusing elements having an effective diameter of about15 microns to about 35 microns and a focal length of about 10 microns toabout 30 microns.
 150. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system ofclaim 61, wherein the image icon focusing elements include focusingelements having an effective diameter of about 15 microns to about 35microns and a focal length of about 10 microns to about 30 microns. 151.The method of claim 108, wherein the image icon focusing elementsinclude focusing elements having an effective diameter of about 15microns to about 35 microns and a focal length of about 10 microns toabout 30 microns.
 152. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system ofclaim 1, wherein the array of image icon focusing elements has an orderof rotational symmetry of at least
 3. 153. The method of claim 21,wherein the array of image icon focusing elements has an order ofrotational symmetry of at least
 3. 154. The synthetic magnificationmicro-optic system of claim 61, wherein the array of image icon focusingelements has an order of rotational symmetry of at least
 3. 155. Themethod of claim 108 wherein the planar array of image icon focusingelements has an order of rotational symmetry of at least
 3. 156. Thesynthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 1, wherein thetransformation is produced by scale distortions of either or both arepeat period of at least a portion of the image icons and a repeatperiod of at least a portion of the image icon focusing elements. 157.The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 156, wherein thetransformation is produced by incorporating spatially varyinginformation in the image icon array.
 158. The method of claim 21,wherein the transformation is produced by scale distortions of either orboth a repeat period of at least a portion of the image icons and arepeat period of at least a portion of the image icon focusing elements.159. The method of claim 158, wherein the transformation is produced byincorporating spatially varying information in the image icon array.160. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 145,wherein the transformation is produced by scale distortions of either orboth a repeat period of at least a portion of the image icons and arepeat period of at least a portion of the image icon focusing elements.161. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system of claim 160,wherein the transformation is produced by incorporating spatiallyvarying information in the image icon array.